Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Veteran-child communication about parental PTSD: A mixed methods pilot study
Journal Name
Journal of Family Psychology
Journal Volume
29
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
595-603
DOI
10.1037/fam0000124
Summary
Many adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are parents who must navigate relationships with their children in the face of this diagnosis. This study investigated communication with children regarding parent's PTSD as well as parental experiences receiving treatment for PTSD in a Veteran sample. Findings indicated that Veterans desired to share information about their PTSD with their children, but that they experienced several barriers to doing so.
Key Findings
Veterans with PTSD reported a strong desire to talk to their children about their diagnosis in order to empower children, acknowledge the effect of parent’s PTSD on the children, and convey hope regarding recovery from PTSD.
They experienced some barriers to acting on that desire, including worries about consequences, emotional difficulty approaching the topic, and not knowing how to explain PTSD to their children.
Veterans indicated they would like more attention to and support of their role as parents when receiving treatment for their PTSD.
Implications for Program Leaders
Develop classes for Service members to help them understand PTSD and how to share that information with their children in age-appropriate ways
Provide information regarding resources, such as childcare, for Service members while they receive medical or mental health treatment
Create programming that allows Service members and their children to engage with each other and express feelings about their relationships with each other
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage professionals who work with Service members to pay careful attention to the way in which being a parent interacts with Service members’ other duties
Continue to support the availability of high quality childcare for Service members and their families
Promote exploration of age-appropriate methods of communication with children regarding Service members’ experiences and possible diagnoses
Methods
Participants were recruited through Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital staff referral, flyers posted in VA hospital waiting rooms, letters to Veterans with diagnoses of PTSD, and presentations to groups of Veterans with PTSD.
Data were collected through focus groups and individual interviews, including questions about parenting with a diagnosis of PTSD and how the Veterans would like to be supported
Veterans also completed questionnaires about PTSD symptoms, alcohol use, depression, and anger.
Interview and focus group content was coded to identify themes in Veterans’ responses.
Participants
The sample included 19 Veterans who were predominantly male (89%), White (84%), and unemployed (82%) with an average age of 39 years old (SD = 6.9 years) with at least one child under 18.
Of the sample, 53% had experienced one deployment, 27% had experienced two deployments, and 20% had experienced three or more deployments.
Among the Veterans included, all had a diagnosis of PTSD, and all of the Veterans screened positive for depression, 84% of them in the moderately severe or severe range.
Limitations
Most of the participants were unemployed, so results may not extend to employed Veterans.
All of the sample screened positive for depression, which limits the ability to generalize results to Veterans with PTSD who do not have depression.
Participants were all currently receiving treatment for their PTSD. Individuals who are not receiving treatment may have different opinions and experiences regarding communication with their children about their diagnosis.
Avenues for Future Research
Investigate how parents talk to their children about PTSD immediately after a diagnosis
Evaluate the effectiveness of different types of communication with children of varying ages regarding PTSD
Examine the effects of parental communication regarding PTSD on the parent-child relationship and childspecific outcomes
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
The majority of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are parents. Parents with PTSD report lower levels of parenting satisfaction, poorer parent_ child relationships, and elevated incidence of child distress and behavioral problems in comparison with parents without PTSD. Although literature exists regarding parent_ child communication about serious mental illness and physical health problems, research has yet to examine this communication regarding parental PTSD. This 3-site, mixed methods study involved 19 veteran parents who had a diagnosis of PTSD, participants were recruited from VA medical centers. Veterans participated in focus groups or individual interviews and completed questionnaires, responding to questions about motivations and barriers for disclosure of their PTSD to their children, the content of such disclosure, experiences at the VA as a parent, and desired VA family resources. Although many veterans described a desire to talk with their children about PTSD, they experience many barriers to doing so, including both personal reservations and feelings (e.g., avoidance of discussing PTSD, shame) and concerns about the consequences of disclosure on their children (e.g., child distress, loss of child’s respect for veteran). Regarding veterans’ experience at the VA, 21% reported that none of their providers had assessed if they have children, and 21% experienced the VA system as not welcoming to them as parents, citing both logistical issues (e.g., lack of childcare) and provider neglect of parenting concerns. Veterans indicated they would like the VA to offer parenting classes, workshops for families, child care, and family therapy
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