Health and Mental Health Needs of Children in US Military Families

Abstract

Children in US military families share common experiences and unique challenges, including parental deployment and frequent relocation. Although some of the stressors of military life have been associated with higher rates of mental health disorders and increased health care use among family members, there are various factors and interventions that have been found to promote resilience. Military children often live on or near military installations, where they may attend Department of Defense-sponsored child care programs and schools and receive medical care through military treatment facilities. However, many families live in remote communities without access to these services. Because of this wide geographic distribution, military children are cared for in both military and civilian medical practices. This clinical report provides a background to military culture and offers practical guidance to assist civilian and military pediatricians caring for military children.

Military Children: Unique Risks for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Implications for School-Based Social Work Support

“…These periods of deployment, which can range from a matter of days up until 18 months or even longer, mean that the other parent is the sole caretaker, with family consequences including lower psychological and emotional wellbeing for the other parent, and military children showing higher levels of social and emotional difficulties (Culler et al, 2019). Such problems in children can arise partly in response to any stress or mental health issues on the part of the remaining parent, with the well-being and resilience of this caregiver a crucial protective factor for children (Boberiene & Hornback, 2014;Huebner, 2019). Military children, whose parents were deployed for longer periods, or who were involved in multiple deployments, have been found to experience greater mental health problems than children whose parents were deployed for shorter times (Cederbaum et al, 2014;Mansfield et al, 2011).…”

Military Families' Stressful Reintegration, Family Climate, and Their Adolescents' Psychosocial Health

“…A constant over these 20 years has been the necessary support of military families for the readiness of service members carrying out the military mission. Deployment is experienced by families as well as service members themselves, and military families comprise a sizeable portion of the population with over 2 million children experiencing the deployment of a parent in the aftermath of 9/11 (Huebner, 2019). The research findings on how deployment affects children and youth are equivocal (see Card et al, 2011, for a meta-analytic study showing minimal to moderate effects; also see Orthner &Rose, 2005 andFlake, Davis, Johnson, &Middleton, 2009, who contend that there are more severe effects).…”

Resource Review: Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness

“…Given this large number, it is highly likely that military youth will be part of many classrooms, after-school programs, 4-H clubs, and faith-based congregations. Although most militaryconnected children and families are doing well, some struggle and others could benefit from greater support given the realities of military service (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019;Sullivan et al, 2019 while also working to help prevent and address potential problems among service members and their families (Ames et al, 2011;Clary & Ferrari, 2015;Ferrari, 2015;Huebner, 2019).…”