https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-FandO2021

Farnsworth, M. L., & O’Neal, C. W. (2021). Military stressors, parent-adolescent relationship quality, and adolescent adjustment. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30, 2718-2731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02106-y

This study examined the associations between military stressors (e.g., combat deployments), parent-adolescent relationship quality with active-duty and civilian parents, and adolescent adjustment (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy, and personal well-being). Additionally, parent-adolescent relationship quality was examined as a linking mechanism between military stressors and adolescent adjustment. Data were collected from 265 Army families that included an active-duty parent, a civilian parent, and an adolescent. There was some evidence that military stressors were linked to parentadolescent relationship quality. Parent-adolescent relationship quality was consistently linked to adolescent adjustment.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02106-y

Children

Army

Active Duty

Active duty service member
Child of a service member or veteran
Military families

School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Secondary Analysis

Farnsworth, Meredith L., O'Neal, Catherine W.

Elements of military life can create challenges for all family members, including military-connected adolescents, and can have detrimental consequences for their adjustment. Although research with samples of military-connected adolescents has examined the influences of military stressors for adolescent adjustment (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety), less research has identified possible mechanisms responsible for these effects, particularly the role of specific familial factors. Drawing from social ecological theory and attachment theory, we examined the associations between military stressors (e.g., parental rank, combat deployments, permanent change of station moves) and self-reported adolescent adjustment (e.g., depressive symptoms, self-efficacy) along with examining adolescents’ perceptions of parent-adolescent relationship quality with both the active duty and civilian parent as a linking mechanism. Using a path analysis, data from 265 Army families were examined to identify the direct and indirect associations between military stressors and adolescent adjustment through parent-adolescent relationship quality. Most military stressors were not significantly related to relationship quality of either parent or indicators of adolescent adjustment. However, parent-adolescent relationship quality with each parent (active duty and civilian parent) was uniquely related to adolescents’ adjustment. Discussion is provided regarding how military stressors and familial factors are conceptualized within the context of military families and implications for future research, family therapy, and policies are suggested. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Springer

Article
REACH Publication

University of Georgia, MLF
University of Georgia, CWO