Soldier returning home from teh first deployment tend to neglect their children in the first 6 months.
A new study conducted by the PolicyLab, a division from the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia has just published its finding in the American Journal of Public Health. The paper’s goal is to study the interactions between soldiers returning from deployment and their family. Results come to suggest that the rate of child abuse increases after deployment and effectively doubles after a consecutive deployment.
The prestigious paper took into account a very specific timeline for their study case. As stated by the scientist, the first 6 months after returning from deployment are crucial in terms of family interactions. One of the authors engaged in the research endeavor said that the paper actually proves that stress takes its toll on the soldiers. Moreover, it seems that the high level of stress associated with military actions seems to have disastrous consequences on their families.
In order to strengthen the validity of their finds, researchers have taken into account more than 100000 potential candidates. All soldiers involved in the study were married and had children under the age of 2. As for the length of the study, it began in 2001 and ended somewhere in 2007.
So, what did the researchers actually find? It seems that their initial premise was confirmed. Soldiers returning from their first deployment are more likely to project their frustrations on their children. The rate of child abuse increases after deployment. Even the numbers come to confirm their findings. It seems that during 2001 and 2007, approximately 4367 people were abused in the families of 3635 soldiers. Returning from their first deployment. And it doesn’t end here.
It seems that the risk of abuse actually doubles after a soldiers’ second deployment. Army officials have come forth in order to comment on the findings. Karl Schneider, spokesperson for the American Army, from the Manpower department, said that the numbers are way below those of the general population. Nevertheless, they tend to express something most troubling. It seems that, on way or another, being part of a military action and serving into an active warzone can affect an individual, in more ways than we can possibly imagine.
Prompted by the study, the US Army wants to rethink the programs regarding social integration after deployment. They want to assure that each individual knows in place in both Army and society. They also added, that the paper will be put to good use, in order to help those brave men and women who fight for their country.
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