Fact Sheet, Brief
This fact sheet summarizes research showing that children from military families experience above-average levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties and that longer parental deployments are associated with greater difficulties. (Author abstract) Superceded: See http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9568.html Other
The first three years of life are critical in a child's physical, emotional, and intellectual development. Military life presents some unique parenting challenges that civilian families may not face, such as frequent deployments, long duty hours, moves to unfamiliar locations, and separation from extended families and friends. The New Parent Support Program was developed to help military families with young children to adapt to parenthood and to thrive as healthy families no matter where their service may take them. (Author abstract)
Other
This newsletter describes the challenges faced by military families when a parent is deployed, characteristics of military families, and children's adjustment in military families. Research findings are cited that indicate children in military families generally fare as well or better than their civilian counterparts, are adaptive and resilient, and cope effectively. The cycle of deployment in the military is examined, as well as family tasks and stressors at each stage. The stages include pre-deployment, deployment, sustainment, reunion, and post-deployment. Differences between peace-time…
This information sheet offers advice to fathers on strengthening their emotional bond with their children in order to prepare them for the physical separation of military deployment. It also contains a list of online tools to help children cope and families stay connected during deployment.
Other
This bibliography is a compilation of resources regarding the impact of military service on marriage and family life. It is divided into two sections-- 1) Further Scholarly Summaries of Research on Military Service and Marriage and 2) A Bibliography of Research on Military Service and Marriage.
