Highlights
- •Communication and quality time facilitate coping in military children
- •Behavioral and emotional problems are common in children during parental deployment
- •Maintaining family routines is helpful for children during deployment
- •Military parents and spouses need self-care during deployment and reintegration
- •Military families are resilient by strategizing plans and setting goals
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to identify ways parents comfort their children to help
them cope and adapt to the stresses of the deployment of a mother or father in military
service, as well as the reintegration process of the parent returning home.
Design and methods
This qualitative study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to better understand
the lived experiences of these families and strategies used to combat stressors of
deployment and post-deployment. Using purposive and snowball sampling for recruitment,
participants completed an online anonymous survey that consisted of demographic and
open-ended questions. A study sample of 15 participants (n = 15) was selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using an interpretive
framework for data analysis, six themes emerged from the survey.
Results
Six themes emerged from the data including the value of family communication, the
importance of maintaining a routine, the occurrence of behavioral issues and emotional
distress in children, the use of creative coping strategies, the need for parental
self-care, and the resilience of the military families.
Conclusion
There are unique challenges for military families during and after deployment that
can be mitigated with identified strategies.
Implications for practice
Incorporation of the study's findings into nursing practice will enhance patient education
and anticipatory guidance for military families with children experiencing or planning
for a parental deployment.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 08, 2020
Accepted:
May 26,
2020
Received in revised form:
May 26,
2020
Received:
April 29,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
