Needs Assessment of Surviving Military Families: Clinical Symptoms and the Parent-Child Relationship

Abstract

There is limited empirical data to account for the mental health and parent-child relationship outcomes among bereaved military families. The implementation of appropriate programs and mental health interventions depends on the study of relevant demographic and mental health constructs. We report the findings of a needs assessment conducted at a nonprofit organization serving bereaved military families, inclusive of 64 families, with adolescent children (M = 15.04 years, SD = 5.01), who experienced service member loss due to combat (37.5%), suicide (15.6%), homicide or terrorism (10.9%), unintentional self-harm (n = 4.7%), accident (4.7%), or another circumstance (1.6%). Our results align with previous researchers’ findings that surviving military families are at greater risk for problematic grief outcomes, whereby generalized anxiety (t = −3.83, p = .003, d = −0.957) and depressive symptoms (t = −4.28, p = .003, d = −1.07) demonstrate significant differences among complicated and non-complicated grievers. We also found elevated levels of parenting stress. These findings inform recommendations for assessment, program development, and future research for mental health service providers.

Keywords:

• Bereavement
• military
• families
• parent-child relationship
• complicated grief

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by William & Mary and the College of Education at The Pennsylvania State University.

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth E. Burgin

Elizabeth E. Burgin is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of the Military & Veterans Counseling Program in the Department of School Psychology & Counselor Education at William & Mary.

Elizabeth A. Prosek

Elizabeth A. Prosek is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education at Penn State University. Drs. Prosek and Burgin are authors of the ACA endorsed Exemplary Practices for Military Populations.

Kahyen Shin

Kahyen Shin is a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education at Penn State University.

Victoria L. Cunningham

Victoria L. Cunningham is a doctoral student in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at the University of North Texas.

Warren N. Ponder

Warren N. Ponder is the Director of Outcomes and Evaluation at One Tribe Foundation.