Quantity and quality of communication during parental deployment: Links to adolescents’ functioning

ABSTRACT

Using an online survey methodology, we examined individual differences in distance communication between 75 adolescents and their deployed parents and found substantial individual differences in both the quantity and quality of their communication. We also examined the statistical associations between these features of distance communication and adolescents’ functioning, including emotional reactions following communication, health-related quality of life, and externalizing and internalizing problems. The quantity of communication of deployed parents with their adolescents was not associated with adolescents’ functioning, but more positive and less controlling communication was statistically associated with adolescents’ higher functioning. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed.

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to organizations that helped with participant recruitment: Blue Star Families, the National Military Family Association, the Military Child Education Coalition, Zero to Three, and the University of Colorado-Denver Relationships Among Military Personnel Project. Thanks also go to Drs. Anita Vangelisti, Tatiyana Apanasovich, and George Howe for their guidance and to Ms. Everly Jazi for her assistance.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by the George Washington University Columbian College Facilitating Fund.