Military Deployment and Children
Military Deployment and Children
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Introduction
Military deployment is a complex and demanding process, both to the soldier and to his or her family. It is a moment of psychological change affecting more than 1.85 million children with one or both parents in the military and 1.64 active service members (Chandra, Burns, Tanielian, Jaycox, & Scott, 2008) in the United States deployed for an average of 12-15 months. Children are more affected than any other member of the family. They are usually maladaptive and experience mixed emotions of disorientation, anger, loss, sadness, denial, loneliness and feeling overwhelmed. The children not only sacrifice their personal comfort, but also the love and care of the deployed parent. In addition, they may be required to mature early, become more independent and participate in decision-making (Lamberg, 2004). Children also have to deal with bereavement in case the deployed parent is killed in war, which makes them distracted, unable to sleep and angry.
Statement of Problem
Repeated and extended deployment has significant psychological and developmental challenges on the child (Lamberg, 2004). Since school is the second immediate environment for children where they spend most of their time, most of these challenges are exhibited in this environment. For instance, children of deployed parents report lower academic performance, behavioral changes in classroom (such as attacking other students and indiscipline), attendance and task completion during the deployment period (Chandra et al., 2008). These behavioral changes may be caused by underdeveloped relationship skills and poor self-esteem, which increase the child’s vulnerability to bullying, criticism and stigmatization. Moreover, psychological maladaptive children have limited social contact and are unable to form new friendships, while others become rough, easily angered and bullies.
Purpose of Research
Emotional adjustments problems are
Name:
Course:
Instructor:
Date
Introduction
Military deployment is a complex and demanding process, both to the soldier and to his or her family. It is a moment of psychological change affecting more than 1.85 million children with one or both parents in the military and 1.64 active service members (Chandra, Burns, Tanielian, Jaycox, & Scott, 2008) in the United States deployed for an average of 12-15 months. Children are more affected than any other member of the family. They are usually maladaptive and experience mixed emotions of disorientation, anger, loss, sadness, denial, loneliness and feeling overwhelmed. The children not only sacrifice their personal comfort, but also the love and care of the deployed parent. In addition, they may be required to mature early, become more independent and participate in decision-making (Lamberg, 2004). Children also have to deal with bereavement in case the deployed parent is killed in war, which makes them distracted, unable to sleep and angry.
Statement of Problem
Repeated and extended deployment has significant psychological and developmental challenges on the child (Lamberg, 2004). Since school is the second immediate environment for children where they spend most of their time, most of these challenges are exhibited in this environment. For instance, children of deployed parents report lower academic performance, behavioral changes in classroom (such as attacking other students and indiscipline), attendance and task completion during the deployment period (Chandra et al., 2008). These behavioral changes may be caused by underdeveloped relationship skills and poor self-esteem, which increase the child’s vulnerability to bullying, criticism and stigmatization. Moreover, psychological maladaptive children have limited social contact and are unable to form new friendships, while others become rough, easily angered and bullies.
Purpose of Research
Emotional adjustments problems are
References: Chandra, A., Burns, R., Tanielian, T., Jaycox, L., & Scott, M. (2008). Understanding the impact of deployment on children and families: Findings from a pilot study of operational purple camp participants. Center for Military Health Policy Research, WR-566, 1-69. Chartrand, M., Frank, D.A., White, L.F., & Shope, T.R. (2008). Effect of parents’ wartime deployment on the behavior of young children in military. Archives of Pedriatics & Adolescent Medicine, 162(11), 1009-1014. Engel, R., Gallagher, L.B., & Lyle, D.S. (2010). Military deployments and children’s academic achievement: Evidence from Department of Defense Education Activity Schools. Economics of Education Review, 29, 73-82. Fiore, F. (2010). Effects of military deployment on young children just beginning to be understood. Retrieved from Stars and Stipes, http://www.stripes.com/news/effects-of-military-deployment-on-young-children-just-beginning-to-be-understood-1.101899 Gorman, G., & Hilse-Gorman, E. (2010). Wartime military deployment and increased pediatric mental and behavioral health complaints. Pediatrics, 126(6), 1058-1066. Lamberg, L. (2004). When military parents are sent to war, children left behind need ample support. Journal of American Medical Association, 292(13), 1541-1542. Richardson, A., Chandra, A., Martin, L., Setodji, C., Hallmark, B., Campbell, N., Hawkins, S. A., & Grady, P. (2011). Effects of soldiers’ deployment on children’s academic performance and behavioral health. RAND, 1-78. Sheppard, S. C., Malatras, J. W., & Israel, A.C. (2010). The impact of deployment on US military families. American Psychologist, 65(6), 599-609.