Impact of Deployment on Military Families with Young Children: A Systematic Review

Background: Over 40% of children in military families are under 6 years old, a period when children are most dependent on their parents’ physical and emotional availability. Purpose: This systematic review describes the impact of deployment since 9/11 on the mental health of military families with young children, evaluates evidence-based interventions for military parents with young children, and identifies gaps in the science limiting our ability to support the needs of these families. Methods: Databases were reviewed from 2001 to 2014 using PRISMA; 26 studies met review criteria. Results: Deployment was associated with increased parent stress, child behavior problems, health care utilization, and child maltreatment. Few studies tested interventions or focused on racial/ethnic minority or veteran families. A number of methodological limitations are noted. Conclusions: More research using multiple methods, stronger designs, and more diverse samples is needed to understand and address the needs of military families with young children. Key Words: military families, veteran, mental health, parenting, young children, child mental health, systematic review, review of literature, health disparities.