![]() ![]() The evidence is clear that deployments are stressful on families and that children can be affected by these deployments. Rates especially increased in older children. 3 Another study showed that mental and behavioral health visits increased by 11 percent in children of deployed military members, behavioral disorders increased by 19 percent, and stress disorders increased by 18 percent. A survey showed 20 percent of military spouses reported increases in problem behavior exhibited by their children at home in response to parental deployment, and 21 percent reported increased levels of fear and anxiety with their children. ![]() 1, 2 More recent findings with deployed service members with children have shown problems with sleeping, higher stress levels and anxiety, declining grades, an increase in maladaptive child behaviors, and increased rates of child maltreatment. The effect of parental deployment in previous wars has shown children having an increase in behavioral problems. More than two million United States children have been affected directly by a parent’s deployment. As a result of these deployments, many children from military families have experienced absences of one or both parents. The mother denied any other history of intentional self-inflicting behaviors.ĭeployments for military members in the United States have increased in both frequency and length over the past 10 years. He would randomly slap himself in the face after getting the mother’s attention to watch him. Coy stated in the room, “I would never hurt anybody.” Coy had never expressed suicidal ideation. The mother reported that Coy seemed to feel sorry for what he did and had remorse after aggressive acts toward his older sister, younger brother, and the dog. The mother reported a family history of depression in her family but denied personal history. The mother denied, and patient did not indicate, any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse history or exposure to violence in the home. Coy was very attentive to book reading, and he could complete color patterns in the lines or a workbook assignment given to him by his part-time nanny. He always had imaginative and social play and played well with other children. ![]() She reported that Coy had no health issues and was meeting all milestones early. The mother reported having a normal pregnancy and delivery with Coy, who was healthy at birth. When Coy refuses, Dad will get tough with Coy, raising his voice demanding obedience or spanking him.” The mother explained that Coy had never responded positively to this approach from his dad and would act out as if saying, “Who are you to tell me what to do when you’re never here.” Other times, if the father was play wrestling with Coy, the mother said she would typically intervene out of fear of Coy’s anger flare ups toward the father, which would lead to a tense interaction between the two. The mother stated, “Coy and his dad do not get along with each other and have unpleasant interactions even when Dad is home for short periods.” The mother reported, “Dad seems to expect Coy to act more mature than his age and to do what he is told. The father volunteered for frequent military deployments, temporary duty assignments, and career training over the past four years. When these approaches did not work, the mother reported “spanking Coy on the butt as a last resort.” The mother mostly attributed Coy’s behavior to the father’s frequent absences that had been occurring since Coy’s birth. The mother stated, “Coy refuses to follow the rules in the home despite being fully aware of the consequences.” Coy was often disciplined with “time outs” or positive incentives by mother. The mother described Coy as a “very smart, willful child.” He was often defiant toward her and especially toward his father over the past year. During initial intake, Coy’s mother reported concerns for Coy “being too aggressive toward his 11-year-old sister and the family puppy.” The mother gave examples of Coy “getting so angry he would kick his older sister in the face or kick the dog.” The mother also reported Coy being “aggressive with his younger 10-month-old brother, pushing him once.” The mother became more concerned when Coy began making statements, such as, “Mom, if I kill you I would not have to follow your rules,” and “Mom, would I be in trouble if I cut the family dog into little pieces.” The mother reported that Coy had never injured his two siblings or the puppy and denied that Coy had access to or used a weapon to hurt anyone. He was referred to our clinic for “play therapy.” The mother sought treatment for Coy’s increase in aggression and anger for the past year. Coy was a three-and-a-half-year-old son of an active duty Army father and an Army reservist mother.
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