https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Karre2021

Karre, J. K., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., & Perkins, D. F. (2022). Protective factors for military veteran fathers’ parenting functioning and satisfaction. Journal of Family Issues. 43(1), 215-236. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X21993852

This study examined protective factors and risk factors that may be associated with parenting functioning (i.e., positive parenting behaviors) and parenting satisfaction in a sample of Veteran fathers (N=3,810) who had separated from the military in the last 90 days. Protective factors included Veteran fathers’ financial security, physical activity, resilience, absence of mental health symptoms, romantic relationship functioning, relationship satisfaction, social support (i.e., someone who the Veteran can rely on), and social functioning (i.e., interactions with others). Risk factors included number of deployments, traumatic combat exposure, and emotional numbing (i.e., detachment from others). Given that not all Veteran fathers were in a romantic relationship, separate analyses were conducted for a subsample of Veteran fathers in a romantic relationship (n=3,613). Protective factors tended to be associated with both parenting functioning and parenting satisfaction although some associations were affected by the number of deployments, relationship functioning, and relationship satisfaction.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X21993852

Children
Couples
Parents
Veterans

Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Navy

Veteran

Military families
Veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Very old (85 yrs & older)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Secondary Analysis

Karre, Jennifer K., Morgan, Nicole R., Bleser, Julia A., Perkins, Daniel F.

Employing a strengths-based perspective, this study examined protective factors related to fathers’ positive parenting behaviors and parenting satisfaction. The sample included 3,810 active duty veteran fathers who separated from the active component and had at least one child 18 years and younger. Logistic regression analyses indicated that financial status, health functioning, resilience, social support, positive social functioning with community and friends, and positive social functioning with relatives were all associated with parenting functioning. The interaction of the number of deployments and resilience was related to parenting functioning. Furthermore, health functioning, resilience, social support, positive social functioning with community and friends, and positive social functioning with relatives were associated with parenting satisfaction. Among fathers in a romantic relationship, the interaction of the number of deployments and romantic relationship functioning and the interaction of the number of deployments and romantic relationship satisfaction were both related to parenting functioning and parenting satisfaction.

SAGE Publications

Article
REACH Publication

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, The Pennsylvania State University, JKK
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, The Pennsylvania State University, NRM
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, The Pennsylvania State University, JAB
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, The Pennsylvania State University, DFP
Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology & Education, The Pennsylvania State University, DFP
Social Science Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, DFP