Date

5-23-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Ralph M. Ogburn

Keywords

Military Children, parental deployment, secure attachment, parent-child relationships, adolescents, teenagers

Disciplines

Philosophy | Psychology

Abstract

Military deployments disrupt the stability of parent-child relationships, especially for adolescents navigating attachment during extended parental separations. This qualitative dissertation study explored the lived experiences of twelve Military Children (MC), ages 14-17, across the three key phases of a continuous six-month to one-year parental deployment: pre-deployment, deployment, and reintegration. This study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to capture MC perspectives on relational dynamics, emotional challenges, and attachment disruptions with both the deployed and non-deployed parents. Participants were recruited via social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), publicly distributed recruitment flyers, and participated in semi-structured interviews conducted through audio-video recorded interviews. Thematic analysis revealed eight overarching themes and twenty codes, highlighting experiences such as anticipatory anxiety, emotional strain, coping through structured routines and technology, shifting household roles, and the complexities of reintegration. Findings indicated that limited communication, emotional suppression, and shifting parental roles hinder secure attachment, while consistent contact, shared activities, and emotional validation promote relational resilience. These insights provide practical implications for developmental psychologists, military family support programs, educators, and faith-based organizations. The study underscores the importance of integrated, developmentally sensitive interventions that support emotional well-being and foster secure attachment for MC throughout the deployment phases.

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