In the Military, the Whole Family Serves

May 9, 2023

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Claudia Black Young Adult Center

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By Anna McKenzie

When we think of the military, we often picture individuals who have or are currently serving in our armed forces. However, the reality is that our military consists of over a million families who face unique challenges due to military service. These challenges can range from deployment to dealing with injuries and loss, as well as frequent moving, which happens every two to three years on average, according to the US Department of Defense (DoD).

While children of military families are often resilient, even amidst parental deployment, they still struggle with increased stress, feelings of isolation, and emotional and behavioral problems. It’s important to understand the effects that military family stress can have on individuals and how we can support our serving members, veterans, and their children.

It’s important to understand the effects that military family stress can have on individuals and how we can support our serving members, veterans, and their children.

Military Family Stress

Military families bear the burden of frequent transitions and the potential of combat for the sake of our country. In the absence of combat, military life often requires moving to different locations, which means leaving communities and support systems behind. Leaving the familiar on a repeated basis can lead to feelings of isolation and detachment. 

According to the DoD, military children and teens can benefit from therapy and processing their emotions with others. They can also find solace in connecting with peers and engaging in extracurricular activities. Adapting to new environments can be tough at first, but seeking community and having creative or recreational outlets can foster a sense of safety and resilience.

Deployment Stress in Military Families

When loved ones are deployed, children carry the stress of the deployment, which can also be passed along by the remaining parent or caregiver. Here are the facts on military family stress from deployment, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP):

  • One in four children experience depression.
  • One in five children experience academic problems.
  • One in five children cope poorly (or very poorly) with deployment separation.
  • Wartime media coverage is a significant stressor for children with deployed parents.
  • Depression, acting out, and externalizing behaviors in children were associated with the parent’s length of deployment.
  • One in three children with a deployed parent are at high risk of psychosocial issues. 

When loved ones are deployed, children carry the stress of the deployment, which can also be passed along by the remaining parent or caregiver.

Deployment stress in military families is easily absorbed by children, from both verbal and nonverbal cues. Roughly 39-44% of deployed service members’ spouses showed an increase in marital problems due to deployment stress, which rarely goes unnoticed by children. 

However, a parent’s attitude can strongly affect how a child responds to deployment stress. The NCCP reports that parents who described their families as “strong” were more likely to indicate that their children coped well with deployment. Parents who coped well were also more likely to believe their children had coped well. Additionally, having a supportive community, from military to religious and social organizations, can help reduce the impact of military family stress.

PTSD in Military Families

Deployed service members may return with both visible and invisible wounds. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military families is a serious issue; it can disrupt family life and create issues that last for years to come. 

According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), roughly 16% of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom were positive for PTSD at the time of their screening, with 29% reporting having PTSD at some point in their lives. Sadly, military sexual trauma (MST) is a significant contributor to PTSD rather than combat experiences. One in three women and one in 50 men reported MST when screened through their VA provider.

Alongside PTSD and other mental health conditions, service members may also experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during deployment. About 12% of soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan reported a TBI, according to a RAND Corporation survey. Approximately 31% reported the experience of PTSD, a mental health condition, or TBI. According to the NCCP, 85% of veterans with TBI also had at least one psychiatric diagnosis, with PTSD, depression, and substance use disorder being the most common.

Veterans with PTSD are more likely to engage in domestic violence versus veterans without PTSD or the general public. This is one way that PTSD in military families can be passed down. Physical, verbal, or emotional abuse can be traumatic for children; children may also have a hard time understanding how their parent’s personality or behavior could change so drastically, and as a result, they internalize their distress. 

For other children, the loss of a parent due to combat can be very traumatic. Dealing with the grief and the absence of a parent is significant and can affect children of different ages in different ways.

The good news is that trauma can be treated effectively. Many evidence-based practices and therapies have helped to resolve PTSD and trauma in both veterans and their children. What matters is getting support and guidance for healing. Recovery is possible, and those who have experienced trauma can thrive and learn to live fulfilling lives again. 

Help for Mental Health Conditions

At Claudia Black Young Adult Center, we offer a safe haven for young adults who have experienced trauma or mental health conditions due to military family stress or deployment. Our research-backed therapies and community allow young adults to resolve painful issues and build resilience. We accept TRICARE insurance and would be happy to provide more information about our program and benefits. Contact us today to learn more.