Gewirtz, A. H., McMorris, B. J., Hanson, S., & Davis, L. (2014). Family adjustment of deployed and nondeployed mothers in families with a parent deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Research and Practice, 45(6), 465-477. doi:10.1037/a0036235

There is limited research on the family and individual adjustment of military mothers who have deployed to conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan (OIF, OEF, OND). An analysis of baseline data on maternal, child, parenting, and couple adjustment for mothers in 181 families in which a parent deployed to OIF/OEF/OND was conducted. Overall, differences were found between deployed and non-deployed mothers on individual and family dimensions.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0036235

Children
Couples
Deployment
Mental health
Parents

Air Force
Army
Multiple branches

Active Duty
Guard
Reserve

Active duty service member
Guard/Reserve member
Military families
Spouse of service member or veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Empirical Study
Quantitative Study

Gewirtz, Abigail H., McMorris, Barbara J., Hanson, Sheila, Davis, Laurel

Almost nothing is known about the family and individual adjustment of military mothers who have deployed to the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan (Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn; OIF, OEF, OND), constituting a gap in psychologists’ knowledge about how best to help this population. We report baseline data on maternal, child, parenting, and couple adjustment for mothers in 181 families in which a parent deployed to OIF/OEF/OND. Among this sample, 34 mothers had deployed at least once, and 147 mothers had experienced the deployment of a male spouse/partner. Mothers completed self-report questionnaires assessing past-year adverse life events, war experiences (for deployed mothers only), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, difficulties in emotion regulation, parenting, couple adjustment, and child functioning. Mothers who had deployed reported greater distress than nondeployed mothers (higher scores on measures of PTSD and depression symptoms), and slightly more past year adverse events. A moderate number of war experiences (combat and post-battle aftermath events) were reported, consistent with previous studies of women in current and prior conflicts. However, no differences were found between the two groups on measures of couple adjustment, parenting, or child functioning. Results are discussed in terms of the dearth of knowledge about deployed mothers, and implications for psychologists serving military families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

American Psychological Association

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, AHG
School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, BJM
University of Minnesota, SH
University of Minnesota, LD