Emotional Distress and Health Risk Behaviors of Mothers of United States Marines

While ample research has examined the effects of deployment on Service members and their spouses and children, few studies have examined the experiences of Service members' parents. The health behaviors and psychological distress of mothers of deployed male Marines were compared to mothers of non-deployed Marines. Mothers of deployed Marines had higher psychological distress, but not more negative health behaviors, than mothers of non-deployed Marines.