The impact of deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan on military children: A review of the literature

Abstract

The aim of this review is to evaluate what is known about the impact on children of parental deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. We searched for relevant studies with a minimum sample size of 50 which were published between 2003 and 2010 using Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Bibliographies of retrieved articles were also searched. Nine US-based studies were identified for inclusion in the review, five were cross-sectional, two were longitudinal and two were analyses of routinely collected data. Researchers found an increase in emotional and behavioral problems in children when a parent was deployed. Several mediating factors were identified, such as the family demographics and the number and duration of parental deployments. Parental psychopathology was most consistently identified as a risk factor for childhood emotional and behavioral disorders in the research. Limitations of the current research and subsequent recommendations for future research are also outlined.

Protective Factors in Families: Themes From a Socioecological Study of Australian Defence Force Families Experiencing Parental Deployment

“…It is clear that extended family, family friends, and educators can be a source of special relationships that operate as protective factors assisting the development of resilient children as reported by Brooks (2011). MacManus et al (2012), Lara-Cinisomo et al (2011), andWhite, de Burgh, Fear, andIversen (2011) have argued that multiple deployments increase the risks families experience. This is most likely due to the repeated feelings of grief and loss (Gillies & Neimeyer, 2006) when families are still vulnerable and are less able to be resilient.…”

Long-Term Trajectories and Service Needs for Military Families

“…Studies in OEF/OIF/OND veterans have consistently shown that non-PTSD psychological distress and psychiatric disorders are significantly associated with worsened family outcomes and child behaviors (MacDermid Wadsworth 2010; White et al 2011). In a study of National Guard couples 45-90 days post-deployment from OEF/ OIF/OND, recent combat exposure was not related to family outcomes (Blow et al 2013).…”

“…Military children have been likewise affected by parent deployment, with many children showing increased emotional and behavioral problems during and after deployment (Lincoln and Sweeten 2011;Lincoln et al 2008;MacDermid Wadsworth 2010;McFarlane 2009;Paris et al 2010;Siegel and Davis 2013;White et al 2011). In systematic reviews, duration of deployment and parent psychological distress were identified as risk factors for worsened child psychological distress (White et al 2011).…”

“…In systematic reviews, duration of deployment and parent psychological distress were identified as risk factors for worsened child psychological distress (White et al 2011). In an Army-wide survey, onefifth of Army spouses reported that their oldest child coped poorly with a parent's current or past deployment (U.S. Army Family and MWR Command 2006).…”

“…Most of these studies have focused on active duty military families during deployment or within a year post-deployment (Sayer et al 2010;White et al 2011) and have found that the current conflicts are associated with family dysfunction and spousal and child distress (MacDermid Wadsworth 2010). Over the first several months post-deployment, soldiers reported increasing rates of interpersonal conflict, particularly among members of the reserve component of the military (Milliken et al 2007).…”