The Relationship of Predeployment Child-Focused Preparedness to Reintegration Attitudes and PTSD Symptoms in Military Fathers With Young Children

Deployment may pose stress for both Service members and their children. This study interviewed 30 Service members about their pre- and post-deployment experiences, and examined the relationship between pre-deployment child-focused preparation, reintegration attitudes, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results revealed that compared to Service members who did not prepare their children for deployment, those who engaged in pre-deployment child preparation were less likely to have negative reintegration attitude or meet the clinical criteria for PTSD.