Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Children of the U.S. National Guard: Making meaning and responding to parental deployment.
Journal Name
Youth & Society
Journal Volume
NULL
Issue Number
NULL
Page Numbers
NULL
DOI
10.1177/0044118X1557088
Summary
National Guard youth at a summer camp participated in an individual interview regarding their behavior during parental deployment. Participants described a range of responses, including assuming additional household tasks to maintaining typical routines. Some youth intentionally withdrew from family relationships to avoid conflict or minimize stress on the at-home parent.
Key Findings
Approximately one in six youth assumed additional at-home responsibilities during deployment, often motivated by an awareness that their at-home parent was overwhelmed.
About one in four youth denied considerable change in home life during deployment, noting their at-home parents were strong.
Some youth reported that they intentionally withdrew from family activities and relationships, and reasons for withdrawal included a desire to avoid placing undue stress on the non-deployed parents, to avoid conflict with the at-home parent, or a sense they could not count on support from family members.
Implications for Program Leaders
Develop classes for non-deploying parents and youth to proactively teach communication skills to strengthen their bond during deployment
Offer support programs for non-deployed parents to provide them opportunities to exchange social support with others
Host family-oriented events during the Service member’s deployment for non-deployed parents and their children to provide enjoyable activities for military families
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support camps and other enjoyable activities for military youth affected by parental deployment
Encourage National Guard leadership to work with the public school system to create a system for communication so school personnel know about parental deployments
Suggest partnerships between community childcare agencies and military family programs, creating an infrastructure for additional childcare during deployment
Methods
Youth were recruited at an Operation Military Kids summer camp and were eligible if they have had a parent who had deployed.
Youth participated in a 20-40 minute individual interview and completed a demographic form on the second day of camp.
Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and qualitative analyses were used to examine key themes in youth's experiences.
Participants
Participants were 24 youth with a parent in the National Guard who deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Their age range was 13-17 years old (M = 14.7, SD = 1.3), 13 youth were female, and 88% of the sample were White.
The average number of parental deployments among this sample was 2.3 (SD = 2.0).
Limitations
The study used a convenience sample of youth at one camp in one state, limiting the ability to generalize the findings.
The sample was homogenous regarding ethnic background, so the extent to which other military youth of different ethnicities have similar experiences is unknown.
Approximately half of the sample were National Guard Youth Council members who may have been more informed of available services for military youth than other children.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate this study with children of Active Duty parents
Conduct a longitudinal study of military youth who experience multiple parental deployments to better understand their adjustment and functioning over time
Examine gender differences in youth’s experiences of parental deployment
Focus
National Guard
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
This qualitative study explored how 24 youths’ behaviors during deployment were influenced by their perceptions of their non-deployed parents. Interviews were conducted with youths of previously deployed National Guard parents. Analysis of interviews suggests that the youths’ interactions with their non-deployed parents strongly influence their behaviors during deployment. Examined through the lenses of family systems and symbolic interaction, youths appear to base their behaviors upon perceptions of their non-deployed parents’ abilities to cope and manage the changes brought about during deployment. The majority of youths report reacting in ways intended to help their parents and families—whether by stepping up and assisting their non-deployed parents, or withdrawing physically or emotionally to reduce the emotional strain on parents. Implications of findings are discussed.
Abstract Document
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