Publication year
2016
Citation Title
Evaluation of a multimedia intervention for children and families facing multiple military deployments
Journal Name
The Journal of Primary Prevention
Journal Volume
37
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
53-70
DOI
10.1007/s10935-015-0410-7
Summary
Intervention for military families that experience multiple deployment and with young children (two to five years old) is relatively understudied. This research examined whether military families with young children would benefit from a multimedia kit especially designed for military children. Results supported the usefulness of a self-administered multimedia intervention to help military families cope with deployment.
Key Findings
Both test and control groups reported decreases in parental depressive symptoms and children’s aggressive behaviors over time.
Compared to the control group, caregivers in the test group felt more prepared to assist their children during deployment.
Only a small number of caregivers in the test group (30%) reported that they used the knowledge in the video to help their child cope.
Implications for Program Leaders
Use high-quality multimedia as a method of intervention to teach military children about deployment and healthy life habits in general
Offer support groups for military spouses that promote healthy coping and family well-being
Develop classes and workshops for parents and teachers on how to use multimedia to teach children coping skills and reduce their negative behaviors
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to offer support to military families to help them develop effective coping strategies for deployment
Raise awareness of the vulnerability of military children when their parents experience multiple deployment
Support collaboration among military communities regarding the specific challenges caused by multiple deployments and how military families could cope with them
Methods
Participants were recruited from nine shopping malls near military facilities, and were randomly divided into two groups: the test group (families that used Talk, Listen, Connect: Multiple Deployment) and the control group (families that used Health Habit for Life).
Caregivers were interviewed over phone at the beginning of the study and four weeks later; of the 300 families recruited, 282 of them (94%) completed the second interview.
Caregivers answered questions regarding the caregiver-child relationship, the caregiver’s mood, the children’s mood and behavior, and the impact of the multimedia (only at the second interview).
Participants
The sample included 282 caregivers of children two to five years old; all the caregivers were spouses or family members of enlisted Service members with pay grades between E2 and E6.
Most caregivers were female (75%), under 35 years old (69%), and White (67%).
The military branches that the Service members served in were Army (57%), Air Force (15%), Marine Corps (15%), Navy (11%), and Coast Guard (2%).
Limitations
The interval between the two interviews was short, therefore the long term effect of the program is unknown.
Both the experimental and control groups received intervention by watching videos; without a “no intervention” group, it is hard to determine what would happen without the videos.
The two phone interviews were relatively short, therefore the information collected was limited.
Avenues for Future Research
Have multiple post-tests over time to examine the long term effect of the intervention
Add a “no-intervention” group as base line to study what would happen without any intervention
Control the length and frequency that families watch the videos to determine the level of exposure needed to achieve a significant outcome
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Repeated military deployments have been a common experience for many military families in the past 15 years. While there has been an increase in research and intervention focused on the effects on families of military deployments, much of this work has not focused specifically on the particular needs of young children. Talk, Listen, Connect: Multiple Deployments (TLC-II MD), a multimedia kit designed for home use, is among the first interventions directed toward young children. Created by Sesame Workshop and using popular Sesame Street characters, TLC-II MD was designed to support and equip families with young children with skills to address challenges associated with multiple deployments. This study utilized a randomized experimental design to evaluate the impact of TLC-II MD relative to a control condition using a Sesame Workshop multimedia kit not tailored to military families. Parents in both groups reported that children enjoyed the video overall and watched it repeatedly. Also in both groups, caregivers' depressive symptoms and children's aggressive behaviors declined significantly over time. Caregivers in the test group reported significantly larger increases in comfort discussing the deployment with their child and stronger perceptions that the DVD helped children to cope. Thus, the resilience-oriented materials were helpful to both groups, but those tailored to military families were significantly more likely to be perceived as helpful. Findings offer evidence regarding the ability of multimedia self-administered interventions to assist military families.
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