The long war and parental combat deployment: effects on military children and at-home spouses

Abstract

Objective: Given the growing number of military service members with families and the multiple combat deployments characterizing current war time duties, the impact of deployments on military children requires clarification. Behavioral and emotional adjustment problems were examined in children (aged 6 through 12) of an active duty Army or Marine Corps parent currently deployed (CD) or recently returned (RR) from Afghanistan or Iraq.

Method: Children (N = 272) and their at-home civilian (AHC) (N = 163) and/or recently returned active duty (AD) parent (N = 65) were interviewed. Child adjustment outcomes were examined in relation to parental psychological distress and months of combat deployment (of the AD) using mixed effects linear models.

Results: Parental distress (AHC and AD) and cumulative length of parental combat-related deployments during the child's lifetime independently predicted increased child depression and externalizing symptoms. Although behavioral adjustment and depression levels were comparable to community norms, anxiety was significantly elevated in children in both deployment groups. In contrast, AHC parental distress was greater in those with a CD (vs. RR) spouse.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that parental combat deployment has a cumulative effect on children that remains even after the deployed parent returns home, and that is predicted by psychological distress of both the AD and AHC parent. Such data may be informative for screening, prevention, and intervention strategies.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Drs. Lester, Peterson, Reeves, Knauss, Glover, Mogil, Duan, Saltzman, Pynoos, and Beardslee, and Ms. Wilt report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1. Prevalence of Clinically Significant Child Symptoms as a Function of Parent Deployment Status

Figure 2. Prevalence of Clinically Significant At-Home Civilian Parent Distress as a Function of Deployment Status

Note: PTSS = Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms based on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PDS) Symptom Severity Anxiety significantly different at p=.04

Figure 3. Child Behavior Checklist Externalizing Symptoms as a Function of Gender and Parent Deployment Status