Children of deployed servicemembers suffer more emotional and behavioral problems

A new study published today by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that children of deployed servicemembers have a higher rate of emotional and behavioral problems than other children. The study involved children from age 11 through 17 and was based on interviews with 1,500 military families.

The study found that these children were twice as likely as children whose parents were not deployed to have symptoms of higher anxiety, such as becoming scared for no apparent reason or feeling like they could not be left alone.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, this study comes at a time when the military is struggling with a record number of suicides and divorces among military families.

If you see any change in your child's behavior, seek counselling through the servicemember's commanding officer or through the Family Resource Coordinator at your local base or post.