The Effects of Deployment on Families
What are the effects of deployment on military families? Deployment is the action of moving or relocating military personnel and materials to a different location. For service individuals and military families this act can be devastating and require adjustments that frequently have detrimental effects on all family members psychological, physical, and cognitive wellbeing. For this paper two articles will be analyzed to determine key concepts that are commonly discussed in both articles; strengths and weaknesses in both article’s scholarship; the significance of both articles to clinical practice with military affiliated families; analyze if and how articles classify into a bigger context; how articles can be applied race, gender, or sexual orientation issues; and evaluate the most significant aspects of both articles.
Analyzing an integrating the Articles
Military children and families have different responses to their loved ones being deployed during the time frame that they are serving in the military. In empirical research there are several definitions that describe the relationship and relations that military families have to soldiers. According to Park(2011) military families and children include “traditional and nontraditional families, extended and binuclear families, spouses and significant others, sons and daughters, stepsons and stepdaughters, brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, and so on”(p 66). In other words, military children and family can be any person or persons that have a familial connection to military personnel. A similar definition was presented by Sheppard, Malatras, and Israel (2010) in their research study that focused on the impact of deployment on service members and military families. Military families were defined as traditional and nontraditional; spouses; and children (p 600). Both articles focus on the impact that deployment has on military families. Other commonalities that are shared by both articles are the types of behavior that are exhibited by children as a response to the deployment of a family member. Some common behaviors are depression and anxiety. In addition, effects on children and adolescent physical health can be hypertension, stress, and increased heart rate. Another similar concept that was discussed in both articles is risk of mental health related issues and social adjustments that are faced by military families. When a family member who has a great impact on the home is absent due to deployment this encourages the onset of various behaviors in youth. Hence, a common concept in both of the aforementioned articles signifies affects to psychological, mental, and operational functions of military family and military service officers as well.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Both Articles
In Parks(20110 journal article the main focus was placed on empirical literature that studied the strengths and challenges experienced by military children and families. More specifically, the impact that deployment on families was analyzed during war, and at times of peace. During war children and families frequently have to move and adjust to social, physical, and psychological changes that are a result from their single or dual parental absence from military deployment. This article articulates that some of the consequences can have negative or positive impacts on the entire family unit; or social and psychological growth of individual family members. One group that is highlighted in this article is children. Though, this aricle examines several studies on the impact that deployment can have on the family; it odes no contain any quantitative information that can possibly be studied further. Another weakness is the limited research on the impact of deployment as it related to the different military branches. Hence, Parks(2011) article is very informative but can develop a deeper understanding of the impact that deployment can have on military families.
In Sheppard, Malatras, and Israel(2010) article, the effects of deployment on child maltreatment, academic functioning, and mental health and behavior were all evaluated. The aforementioned subject matter are strengths of this journal article because it employment on child maltreatment, academic functioning, and mental health and behaviors explores that deployment in general, and the possible mental issues that result from deployment for service members can have on their children. Another strength of this article is the exploration of the molecular and global family stability concepts. Both concepts explore potential outcomes and actions that may result from deployment of family members. From a molecular family stability viewpoint, the remaining parent in the home may be faced with challenges in maintaining the home by playing multiple roles to compensate for the absent parent. On the other hand, the global family stability perspective can expose families to the risks of behavior problems, marital issues such as divorce, separation, etc. A weakness of this article is the lack of quantitative research. Though a vast amount of information was qualitatively presented, none of the recommendations for future research were explored further. Hence, Sheppard, Malatras, and Israel(2010) research is an excellent resource that will lay the foundation for future studies, but lacks quantitative data.
Significance of Journal Articles to Clinical Practice with Military Affiliated Families
Sheppard, Mamlatras, and Israel study significant discoveries related to deployment and age were discovered. It was found that younger children (ages 3 to 5 years of age) had increase levels of externalizing scores. This is an indicator that deployment can impact early psychological development and children’s social skills. On the other hand, Park(2011) research study results found that there is a need for more programs, and clinical interventions for service members and military families that are coping with deployment. This was made apparent when it was declared that “targeted programs and services are helpful, but we need further assistance, support, and engagement of the broader community” (p 68). This is significant to clinical practices because it will encourage more research to be conducted to seek out beneficial programs that provide support, guidance, and relatable services to service members and families that are effected by deployment. Hence, the important factors t clinical practice in both journal articles focuses on development and interventions to help soldiers and their families cope with deployment; and the impact that deployment has on family functioning.
Articles Fit into a Bigger Context
Both articles identify the significance and the impact that deployment can have on family functioning, and the individual behaviors of all family members. Another significant factor related to both journal articles is the necessity to develop and create new therapeutic strategies to assist service members who are deployed and their families as well. Empirical research also informs the general public and specialists of the significance of evaluating deployment as a cause to several mental health, social and developmental issues for service members and their families. Hence, deployment and its effects on service and their families provide different theories and methods that can be applied in treatment of both groups.
How Articles can be Applied Race, Gender, or Sexual Orientation Issues
In Park’s journal article there was no specific information that was applicable to race, gender, or sexual orientation. For that reason, there may be future research opportunities pertaining to all aforementioned subject matter, on the other hand, Sheppard, Malatras, and Israel did mention tat gender roles can be a potential risk factor pertaining to menial problems and behavioral issues.. I was suggested that flexible gender roles may be strategy to coping with resilience and risky outcomes as a result of deployment. Neither research stud made race, gender, or sexual orientation the primary focus of the journal articles. Hence, research pertaining to race, gender, and sexual orientation should be considered to determine if any differences exists in service members and military families that are effected by deployment.
Evaluate the Most Significant Aspects of Both Articles
Both articles provide an insight to the diverse ways that deployment can effect family members and service members. Interestingly, not all effects are necessarily negative. In Parks research article, it was highlighted that children in military families exhibited more discipline, structure and controlled behavior when compared to civilian children. This can be the result of several different factors, but none were defined further in the research study. The most significant aspect in Sheppard, Malatras, and Israel’s study is the difference in family stability that can effect military families coping with deployment of loved ones. Both articles are informative and require further research to develop a better and clearer understanding of the different factors related to deployment families. that influence or effect the military.
Conclusion
Deployment is the action of moving or relocating military personnel and materials to a different location. In Parks(20110 journal article the main focus was placed on empirical literature that studied the strengths and challenges experienced by military children and families. In Sheppard, Malatras, and Israel(2010) article, the effects of deployment on child maltreatment, academic functioning, and mental health and behavior were all evaluated. Sheppard, Mamlatras, and Israel study significant discoveries related to deployment and age were discovered. It was found that younger children (ages 3 to 5 years of age) had increase levels of externalizing scores. On the other hand, Park(2011) research study results found that there is a need for more programs, and clinical interventions for service members and military families that are coping with deployment. Both articles identify the significance and the impact that deployment can have on family functioning, and the individual behaviors of all family members. In Park’s journal article there was no specific information that was applicable to race, gender, or sexual orientation. Both articles provide an insight to the diverse ways that deployment can effect family members and service members. Hence, both articles have similarities and differences related to deployment.
References
Park, N. (2011). Military Children and Families. American Psychoogist , 65-72.
Sheppard, S. C., Malatras, J. W., & Israel, A. C. (2010). The Imact of Deployment of U.S. Military Families. American Psycholgist , 599-609.
