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Impact of paternal deployment to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and paternal post-traumatic stress disorder on the children of military fathers

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Fear, Nicola T 
Reed, Ruth V 
Rowe, Sarah 
Burdett, Howard 
Pernet, David 

Abstract

Background Little is known about the social and emotional well-being of children whose fathers have been deployed to the conflicts in Iraq/ Afghanistan or who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aims To examine the emotional and behavioural well-being of children whose fathers are or have been in the UK armed forces, in particular the effects of paternal deployment to the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan and paternal PTSD. Method Fathers who had taken part in a large tri-service cohort and had children aged 3–16 years were asked about the emotional and behavioural well-being of their child(ren) and assessed for symptoms of PTSD via online questionnaires and telephone interview. Results In total, 621 (67%) fathers participated, providing data on 1044 children. Paternal deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan was not associated with childhood emotional and behavioural difficulties. Paternal probable PTSD were associated with child hyperactivity. This finding was limited to boys and those under 11 years of age. Conclusions This study showed that adverse childhood emotional and behavioural well-being was not associated with paternal deployment but was associated with paternal probable PTSD.

Description

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Afghan Campaign 2001-, Age Factors, Behavioral Symptoms, Child, Child, Preschool, Fathers, Humans, Iraq War, 2003-2011, Military Personnel, Sex Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, United Kingdom

Journal Title

British Journal of Psychiatry

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1472-1465
1472-1465

Volume Title

212

Publisher

Cambridge University Press