Publication year
2014
Citation Title
Human-animal interaction as a context for thriving and coping in military-connected youth: The role of pets during deployment.
Journal Name
Applied Developmental Science
Journal Volume
18
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
214-223
DOI
10.1080/10888691.2014.955612
Summary
Survey data from military youth were utilized to examine how the presence of a companion animal in the home impacted resilient functioning strategies and coping. Attachment to an animal was associated with positive youth development and adaptive coping for youth with a deployed family member. Pets may be an effective resource to help military children with military-related stressors (i.e. deployment).
Key Findings
Youth who had a currently deployed family member had higher stress levels than those who did not have a deployed family member.
Among youth whose parent was deployed, higher levels of attachment to an animal were related to use of more adaptive coping strategies.
Higher attachment to a companion animal was significantly associated with positive youth development, regardless of parental deployment status.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer opportunities for families to engage in human-animal interaction (e.g., during after-school programs or peer support groups) to help maintain resiliency and improve mood across the deployment cycle
Disseminate information to military families about the potential benefits of pet ownership
Provide information to families about normative and problematic responses to deployment
Implications for Policy Makers
Support the development of programs that utilize companion animals as a way to promote positive coping among military families
Recommend professional education for staff that work with military families and youth about the benefits of human-animal interaction
Encourge research that evaluates the feasibility of implementing animal-assisted therapy programs, school-based initiatives, and animal-related education programs to help military families manage stress
Methods
Online survey links were sent via email and social media outlets to middle and high school students who participated in the Student-2-Student program.
Parents were asked to read and sign an informed consent prior to their child completing the 30-minute online survey.
Only youth who reported being in a military family were included in the current study.
Participants
Participants included 286 military youth in grades six through 12.
The majority of participants were female (60%) and the average age was 15 years.
Seventy-four percent of participants owned a pet; 61% owned dogs, 25% owned cats, and 14% owned fish.
Of the total participants, 17% had at least one family member currently deployed.
Limitations
A convenience sample was employed of students in a specific program; the extent to which findings generalize to military children more broadly is unknown.
The majority of the sample were military youth who owned pets; therfore, it is uncertain how rates of resilience compare to military families who do not have pets.
The reliance of self-report data may have introduced reporting biases regarding deployment stress.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine the processes involved in human-animal interaction and thriving military youth with a more diverse sample
Explore possible obstacles to pet ownership, including installation restrictions, frequent family moves, and expenses related to owning a pet
Investigate how pet ownership impacts military family functioning of all family members not just children
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
There are close to two million children who have parents serving in the United States military. Youth in military families face unique challenges, such as stress about family deployment. Nevertheless, many military-connected youth also exhibit strength and resilience in the face of these challenges. Therefore, it is critical to identify useful resources that are available for youth in military-connected families that may promote such resilience, and how these resources can be optimized to help youth thrive in the context of parental deployment. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of positive relationships with companion animals as a resource for resilience and thriving in military families. Results suggested that attachment to an animal was associated with positive youth development for military-connected youth and with adaptive coping strategies for youth with a deployed family member. Implications of these findings for the potential role of pets as an effective contextual resource for military families are discussed.
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