Assignment 3: Final Essay

The Impact of Growing Up in Military Families on Children's Well-being Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Professor Date The Impact of Growing Up in Military Families on Children's Well-being Children from military families faces significant challengers compared to their civilian peers. This is because of the frequent movement of their parents, which makes their kids spent most time without them. Moreover, these kids are mostly exposed to war, conflict, and violence at a young age. Such proceedings have overwhelming effects on military children's development and mental health. For instance, reports shows that children of military families in the U.S. faces unique challenges that affects their daily lives. Their parents’ deployment and frequent military missions makes children face regular relocations from one place to another affecting their social connection and general safety hence distressing their development and safety. This research paper examines how the demographics of military families have transformed over time. Results from this exploration can be utilized to develop evidence-based practice to help military families and the general public address the significance challenges facing these population. Background Military families have encountered a fair portion of changes and evolutions through history while familiarizing themselves with the endless changes in society and technology. Where when the Army was isolated, influential leaders such as retired "Maj. Gen. Vance Coleman, a former commanding general for the 84th Training Command," advocated tirelessly for "diversity, equal rights and the desegregation of the military" (Schaeffer, 2023). Historically, such families were predominantly white, with traditional gender roles where men served in the military and women managed the household. Moreover, before 1940, the decennial survey had been mainly stressed on detecting how and where veterans aided and therefore counted men as veterans only if they met specific circumstances. However, today's military families are increasingly diverse, with rising numbers of female service members and greater racial and ethnic representations (Jiang et al., 2022). The number and ages of military children, as well as the educational levels and employment positions of military parents, have also grown. Reports show that the framework of military services is dramatically diverse today compared to what it was when the "all-volunteer force was designed (Clever & Segal, 2013). The force today progressively serves in varied missions, such as combat, intermediation, adversity relief, public health and philanthropic efforts, and homeland security. Various missions, including those that comprise technology or lasting meetings with local people out of the country, demand proficient information and progressive aids that take years to advance (Clever & Segal, 2013). Today's military prepares for and leads assignments not just only in the air, on the land, and the sea but also over space and the Internet. Distinct from the Cold War times, nowadays, the force is engrossed not on a solitary main opponent but on lasting risks from state and non-state actors around the world (McIntosh et al., 2023). Geographically, military families fail to inevitably live close to their colleagues and their families or installation-based support services. They, however, live across societies that are more physically disseminated instead of being concerted in explicit neighborhoods, as the active constituent has moved from living mainly on military connections to living mainly off-installation. Some families reside in places with larger concentrations than the normal number of military and veteran families. Such a demographic shift necessitates a revaluation of the involvement and challenges faced by military families. Frequent relocations and parental deployments remain substantial stressors, affecting children's constancy and permanency in education and social associations. Comprehending such dynamic from a sociological insight, using models such as Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory and Symbolic Interactionism, can offer deeper insights into how military children navigate their exclusive circumstances (McIntosh et al., 2023). Such models help contextualize the connection between individual understandings and larger social structures, highlighting the significance of supportive settings and meaningful communications in children’s development. Statement of the Problem The primary social issue addressed in this paper is the exclusive set of challenges experienced by military families, especially their children. Reports show that military children encounter disruptions in their social life, education, and emotional state because of the frequent relocations and prolonged absences of a parent (Clever & Segal, 2013). Such challenges can result in different outcomes, both positive and negative, based on the support systems accessible and the people resilience of the children. For instance, a study by Opie et al. (2024) reveals that positive impacts of children living with deployed parents include improved child resilience, the establishment of a helpful role model, and financial security. Research also displays that children of all ages encounter more emotional and behavioral difficulties when their parents embark on a mission (Godier-McBard et al., 2021). For instance, younger children tend to display behavioral complications and attachment problems throughout the placement and the reintegration period. Such problems include wetting, trouble sleeping, excessive clinginess, bad dreams, and trouble trusting the deployed parent or respecting their authority. Older children and teenagers living in homes with deployed parent demonstrates negative behaviors, such as anxiety and depression, reduced grades in school, suicidal thoughts, aggressive behaviors, and substance use. Such complications might be associated with the lack of the deployed parent and the mental health of the other parent in the family (Jiang et al., 2022). Partners of those on a mission display more pressure and depression and augmented use of mental health services and medicines. Since military families often move, the trauma on the remaining partner might be complex, especially when they are living far from family and a support system. Such a case also affects children because their safety is tied to their parent's health and well-being. It is not a disbelief that children might be adversely obstructed by a parent's placement, both by the nonappearance of one parent and the mental health complications it takes on the other. Understanding such problems is important for different reasons. For instance, children represent a great and growing segment of the U.S. population. Therefore, their safety directly affects the wider social fabric of the nation. The insights gained from studying military families can inform policies and programs aimed at supporting not just military children but also other children facing related disruptions, including those in foster care with parents in transient occupations (Opie et al., 2024). The evidence from this study will be useful to inform prevention and interventions of the risk factors and mental health problems faced by children with deployed families. Studying militaries can also contribute to the broader discourse on child development, highlighting the significance of stability, support, and adaptability in nurturing positive outcomes. Why Should We as a Society Study This Issue? The social problem at the heart of this study comprises the influence of military life on children's growth and well-being. Reports show that across the childhood developmental spectrum, military adolescents seem to be at the highest risk of adversative outcomes, such as depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and attempts, and eating-related concerns (Opie et al., 2024). Moreover, military youth also encounter more adverse childhood experiences, which most likely contribute to such adverse socioemotional presentations. Military pre-schoolers are also conveyed to have advanced anxiety symptoms compared to community customs (Clever & Segal, 2013). Such stressors tend to disrupt their educational continuity, social relationships, and emotional constancy, resulting in both instant and lasting challenges. Studying this issue is essential for several reasons. For instance, understanding the specific needs of military children can help create targeted interventions and support systems that alleviate the adverse effects of military life (Clever & Segal, 2013). Such issues comprise educational support, mental health services, and plans that support social incorporation and resilience. Furthermore, insights received from this survey can apprise larger social policies destined to support children in diverse, challenging situations, inspiring a more wide-ranging and supportive society (Opie et al., 2023). By emphasizing the connection of military families, we can foster better societal understanding and appreciation for their sacrifices. This might lead to improved public support for guidelines and programs that benefit military families, refining their quality of life and contributing to the overall safety of the state. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this paper is to broadly inspect the evolving demographics of military families and how such changes influence the experiences and outcomes of military children. By addressing the research questions below, this exploration aims to uncover the nuanced impacts of military life on children and identify effective interventions and support systems. Research questions 1 How have the demographics of military families changed over time, and what trends are likely to continue in the future? 2 How do regular relocations and parental deployments impact the psychological well-being of military children? 3 In what ways do the experiences of military children vary based on factors such as their age, race/ethnicity, and the specific circumstances of their parent's service? 4 What are the long-term effects of growing up in a military...