Study: Children of deployed parents are more likely to require services for developmental problems

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals that mental and behavioral problems among children of parents who are deployed to war zones require considerably more outpatient medical visits than kids with non-deployed parents.

According to data released in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that children, who are between the ages of 3 and 8, whose parents were sent to war zones were 11 percent more likely to develop mood, anxiety and adjustment disorders. In addition, the number of medical visits for military children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were higher than non-military kids.

The lead researcher of the study said that while visits for autism and ADD went up among military families, visits for all other medical conditions decreased. He hypothesized that single-parent homes - while the spouse is at war - tend to handle more of their problems at home, rather than seeking outside help.

The research noted that children of deployed military personnel face different stressors, including frequent moves, prolonged parental absences and the fear of a family member's death.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network suggests that military parents tap into a variety of helpful resources, such as education, recreation and faith-based services.