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Developmental issues impacting military families with young children during single and multiple deployments

Lisa Hains Barker1, Kathy D Berry

  • 1Army Community Service, Building 5101, 12th Armored Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40121, USA.

Military Medicine
|November 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Young children experienced more behavior and attachment issues when a parent was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). These issues were linked to deployment length and family stressors.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Military Family Studies
  • Deployment Effects

Background:

  • Increased military deployments in recent years have impacted service members and their families.
  • Understanding the effects of these deployments on young children is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the impact of single and multiple Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) deployments on young children.
  • To identify factors associated with child behavior and attachment changes during and after parental deployment.

Main Methods:

  • The study compared young children with deployed parents to a control group.
  • Data collected on child behavior problems, attachment behaviors, and various child and family characteristics.
  • Analysis included factors like child age, temperament, deployment length, number of deployments, and parental stressors.

Main Results:

  • Children with deployed parents exhibited increased behavior problems during deployment and heightened attachment behaviors upon reunion.
  • Child behavior problems were associated with child age, temperament, deployment duration, and family stressors.
  • Attachment behaviors were linked to deployment length, frequency, and parental stress levels.

Conclusions:

  • Parental deployment significantly affects young children's behavior and attachment patterns.
  • Individual child and family factors play a role in moderating these effects.
  • Higher parental stress and multiple deployments correlate with more pronounced child behavioral issues.

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