Mental Health Challenges in Military Families During Deployment

Psychopathology in Military Families

New research into the lives of men and women in the armed forces has shown that frequent assignments to war zones can be burdensome for the families left behind at home, and that morale within the military is closely tied to household wellbeing. A large number of operational soldiers have children, and the persistent fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan has caused many of them to be away from their families repeatedly for such lengths of time that they miss significant milestones in their children's development (Saltzman et al., 2011). Studies conducted since the inception of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq reveal the pressure that war deployments place on families. These findings include rising rates of domestic violence, higher tendencies of parental neglect and child maltreatment, partner dissatisfaction, fear of the unknown, and increased behavioral problems among children (Chandra et al., 2011; Flake et al., 2009; Lester et al., 2011b).

Certain institutions have expressed concern about the alarming increase in psychopathology within military households. Sadly, these concerns are sometimes overstated, drawing on recurring stereotypes such as depressed spouses, unruly children, and authoritarian fathers — images derived from limited evidence and poor sampling. Some of the most important factors to consider when evaluating psychopathology in military families are their socioeconomic status. Researchers have found that children of military officers tend to be better adjusted than children of enlisted combat soldiers, and that officer families also experience lower rates of family breakdown (Jensen, Xenakis, Wolf, & Bain, 1991).

Prior parental deployment has been identified as a direct contributor to behavioral problems in children. Recent studies point to declining academic performance, mild insomnia, persistent anxiety, and increased rates of child neglect. One study found that 20% of military spouses reported a rise in behavioral disorders among their children during parental deployment, and 21% reported heightened levels of anxiety and worry in their children. Another study found that mental and behavioral health reports rose by 11% among children of deployed soldiers, behavioral problems rose by 19%, and stress-related problems rose by 18%. These increases were more pronounced among older children (James & Countryman, 2012).

Dysfunction and Adolescent Development

Military personnel and their families face a unique set of challenges. Service members experience stressors that civilians do not encounter, and those engaged in the heaviest combat carry a higher risk of developing severe stress reactions and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is common for soldiers returning from deployment to express feelings of anger, fear, sadness, and anxiety. Readjusting to civilian life can be extremely difficult. Young people raised in military households may also find their own developmental journey more demanding. A healthy parent-adolescent relationship is essential, as it helps teenagers navigate emerging social pressures, address concerns about physical development, and seek guidance during periods of change (Milburn & Lightfoot, 2013).

Conversations about physical and sexual development are difficult for many parents. For adolescents with deployed parents, these conversations can become impossible due to the parent's absence. The psychological development of adolescents from military families is further complicated by their awareness of the dangers their parents face and the emotional toll this takes on their daily lives. In studies focused specifically on this population, these young people have shown elevated levels of anxiety, apprehension, and worry related to their parents' deployments. They also report emotional distress during periods of parental absence. Because adolescents are exposed to vivid details of combat through modern media while their cognitive and emotional capacities are still developing, their ability to adapt to parental deployment is significantly strained (Milburn & Lightfoot, 2013).

The military — particularly the U.S. military — promotes a culture of stoicism in which service members are expected to endure hardship without complaint. When this ethos is carried into the home, it can make it more difficult for adolescents to discuss sensitive emotional issues with their parents. This dynamic is compounded when parents adopt authoritarian parenting styles characterized by commands, rigid rules, and praise only for compliant behavior. Despite these pressures, adolescents in military households often develop adaptive coping mechanisms, such as a strong sense of organization and an increased assumption of domestic responsibilities, which can accelerate their maturity. They may take on caregiving roles for younger siblings. These pressures and adaptations alike can significantly influence an adolescent's emotional development (Milburn & Lightfoot, 2013).