Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Challenges Faced by Military Families: Perceptions of United States Marine Corps School Liaisons

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The global war on terror has placed a number of stressful demands on service members and their families. Although the military offers a wide range of services and supports to military families, not all families are willing or able to use them. For example, geographically dispersed families can find it challenging to connect with military support resources. School liaison programs (SLPs) were developed by the military to foster the development of local partnerships to enhance the academic success of military children. In this study, all 20 Marine Corps school liaisons (SLs) reported on the frequency and severity of stressors experienced by Marine families. We hypothesized that SLs would encounter families contending with a broad array of challenges, well beyond those related to academics. Indeed, SLs reported that military families sought assistance for a wide array of stressors. School transition stressors were most common for children and youth, while deployment-related stress was most common for Marine families. Despite the limitations of this study, the results suggest that families using the Marine SLPs may be a vulnerable group. Military–school–community partnerships may hold out promise for filling in service gaps faced by those military families experiencing high levels of stressor exposure and low levels of coping resources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anwieler, J. (2008). Tying the yellow ribbon: How school psychologists and educators can support military families? Communique, 37, 18–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aronson, K. R., Caldwell, L. L., Perkins, D. F., & Pasch, K. W. (2011). Assisting children and families with military-related disruptions: The United States Marine Corps school liaison program. Psychology in the Schools, 48, 998–1015. doi:10.1002/pits.20608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, V. A., Davis, H., & Treiber, F. A. (2007). Perceived stress, heart rate, and blood pressure among adolescents with family members deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Military Medicine, 172, 40–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, K. F. (2008). Easing transitions of military dependents into Hawaii public schools: An invitational education link. Journal of Invitational Theory and Practice, 14, 41–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, G. L., Martin, J. A., Mancini, J. A., & Nelson, J. P. (2000). Community capacity: Antecedents and consequences. Journal of Community Practice, 8, 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, G. L., Mancini, J. A., Martin, J. A., Ware, W. B., & Nelson, J. P. (2003). Promoting the adaptation of military families: An empirical test of a community practice model. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 52, 33–44. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2003.00033.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D., Pryzwansky, W. B., & Schulte, A. C. (1997). Psychological consultation and collaboration: Introduction to theory and practice. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrell, L. M., Adams, G. A., Durand, D. B., & Castro, C. A. (2006). The impact of military lifestyle demands on well-being, army, and family outcomes. Armed Forces and Society, 33, 43–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro, C. A., Adler, A. B., & Britt, T. W. (Eds.). (2006). Military life: The psychology of serving in peace and combat—The military family: Common themes and future directions (Vol. 3, pp. 245–246). Westport, CT: Praeger Security International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catalano, R. F., Haggerty, K. P., Oesterle, S., Fleming, C. B., & Hawkins, J. (2004). The importance of bonding to school for healthy development: Findings from the social development research group. Journal of School Health, 74, 252–261.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chandler, L. A. (1981). The source of stress inventory. Psychology in the Schools, 18, 164–168. doi:10.1002/1520-6807(198104)18:2<164:AID-PITS2310180209>3.0.CO;2-C.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, A., Sandraluz, L., Jaycox, L. H., Tanielian, T., Burns, R. M., Ruder, T., et al. (2010). Children on the homefront: The experience of children from military families. Pediatrics, 125, 16–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra, A., Burns, R. M., Tanielian, T., & Jaycox, L. H. (2011). Understanding the deployment experience for children and youth from military families. New York, NY, USA: Springer Science + Business Media. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7064-0_9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chartrand, M. M., Frank, D. A., White, L. F., & Shope, T. R. (2008). Effect of parents’ wartime deployment on the behavior of young children in military families. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 162, 1009–1014. doi:10.1001/archpedi.162.11.1009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cozza, S. J., Chun, R. S., & Polo, J. A. (2005). Military families and children during operation Iraqi freedom. Psychiatric Quarterly, 76, 371–378. doi:10.1007/s11126-005-4973-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Burgh, H. T., White, C. J., Fear, N. T., & Iversen, A. C. (2011). The impact of deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan on partners and wives of military personnel. International Review of Psychiatry, 23, 192–200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dekel, R., & Monson, C. M. (2010). Military-related post-traumatic stress disorder and family relations: Current knowledge and future directions. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 15, 303–309. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2010.03.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Defense. (2009). Profile of the military community. Washington, DC: Department of Defense.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drummet, A. R., Coleman, M., & Cable, S. (2003). Military families under stress: Implications for family life education. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 52, 279–287. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2003.00279.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ender, M. G. (2006). Voices from the backseat: Demands of growing up in military families. In C. A. Castro, A. B. Adler, & T. W. Britt (Eds.), Military life: The psychology of serving in peace and combat—The military family (Vol. 3, pp. 138–166). Westport, CT: Praeger Security International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esposito-Smythers, C., Wolff, J., Lemmon, K. M., Bodzy, M., Swenson, R. R., & Spirito, A. (2011). Military youth and the deployment cycle: Emotional health consequences and recommendations for intervention. Journal of Family Psychology, 25, 497–507. doi:10.1037/a0024534.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flake, E. M., Davis, B. E., Johnson, P. L., & Middleton, L. S. (2009). The psychosocial effects of deployment on military children. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 30, 271–278. doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181aac6e4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoshmand, L. T., & Hoshmand, A. L. (2007). Support for military families and communities. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 171–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, A. J., Mancini, J. A., Wilcox, R. M., Grass, S. R., & Grass, G. A. (2007). Parental deployment and youth in military families: Exploring uncertainty and ambiguous loss. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 56, 112–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, A. J., Mancini, J. A., Bowen, G. L., & Orthner, D. K. (2009). Shadowed by war: Building community capacity to support military families. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 58, 216–228. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00548.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutton, J. B., Roberts, T. G., Walker, J., & Zuniga, J. (1987). Ratings of severity of life events by ninth-grade students. Psychology in the Schools, 24, 63–68. doi:10.1002/1520-6807(198701)24:1<63:AID-PITS2310240112>3.0.CO;2-W.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine. (2010). Preliminary assessment of readjustment needs of veterans, service members, and their families. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitmitto, S., Huberman, M., Blankenship, C., Hannan, S., Norris, D., & Christenson, B. (2011). Educational opportunities and performance of military-connected school districts: Final report. San Mateo, CA: American Institutes for Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch, L. K., & Theiss, J. A. (2012). Experiences of U.S. military couples during the post-deployment transition: Applying the relational turbulence model. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29, 423–450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester, P., Peterson, K., Reeves, J., Knauss, L., Glover, D., Mogil, C., et al. (2010). The long war and parental combat deployment: Effects on military children and at-home spouses. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49, 310–320. doi:10.1097/00004583-201004000-00006.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacDermid, S. M., Samper, R., Schwarz, R., Nishida, J., & Nyaronga, D. (2008). Understanding and promoting resilience in military families. West Lafayette, IN: Military Family Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahalik, J. R., Good, G. E., & Englar-Carlson, M. (2003). Masculinity scripts, presenting concerns, and help seeking: Implications for practice and training. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34, 123–131. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.34.2.123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancini, J. A., Bowen, G. L., & Martin, J. A. (2005). Community social organization: A conceptual linchpin in examining families in the context of communities. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 54, 570–582. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2005.00342.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, A. C. (2009). Military deployment: The impact on children and family adjustment and the need for care. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 22, 369–373. doi:10.1097/YCO.0b013e32832c9064.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mmari, K. N., Bradshaw, C. P., Sudhinaraset, M., & Blum, R. (2010). Exploring the role of social connectedness among military youth: Perceptions from youth, parents, and school personnel. Child and Youth Care Forum, 39, 351–366. doi:10.1007/s10566-010-9109-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mroczek, D. K., & Almeida, D. M. (2004). The effect of daily stress, personality, and age on daily negative affect. Journal of Personality, 72, 355–378. doi:10.1111/j.0022-3506.2004.00265.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park, N. (2011). Military children and families: Strengths and challenges during peace and war. American Psychologist, 66, 65–72. doi:10.1037/a0021249.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parkerson, G. R., Michener, J. L., Wu, L. R., & Finch, J. N. (1989). The effect of a telephone family assessment intervention on the functional health of patients with elevated family stress. Medical Care, 27, 680–693. doi:10.1097/00005650-198907000-00003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, D. F., Feinberg, M. E., Greenberg, M. T., Johnson, L. E., Chilenski, S. M., Mincemoyer, C. C., et al. (2011). Team factors that predict to sustainability indicators for community-based prevention teams. Evaluation and Program Planning, 34, 283–291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, D., & Oliveri, M. E. (1991). The family’s conception of accountability and competence: A new approach to the conceptualization and assessment of family stress. Family Process, 30, 193–214.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1981). School influences on children’s behavior and development: The 1979 Kenneth Blackfan lecture, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Boston. Pediatrics, 65, 208–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayers, S. L. (2011). Family reintegration difficulties and couples therapy for military veterans and their spouses. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 18, 108–119. doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2010.03.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sayers, S. L., Farrow, V. A., Ross, J., & Oslin, D. W. (2009). Family problems among recently returned military veterans referred for a mental health evaluation. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 70, 163–170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spoth, R., Clair, S., Greenberg, M., Redmond, C., & Shin, C. (2007). Toward dissemination of evidence-based family interventions: Maintenance of community-based partnership recruitment results and associated factors. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 137–146.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sylva, K. (1994). School influences on children’s development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35, 135–170. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1994.tb01135.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takai, K. M., & Berg, K. (2010). Commentary: Military partnership improves education for all Hawaii’s children. Retrieved December 10, 2010 from http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/06/21/41204-commentary-military-partnership-improves-education-for-all-hawaiis-children/.

  • Task Force on Educational Issues Affecting Military. (2009). Task force on educational issues affecting military report. Washington, DC: Task Force on Educational Issues Affecting Military.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, B., & Facon, K. (2011). Supporting military children in school settings: DCOE webinar (unpublished manuscript).

  • United States Marine Corps. (2008). USMC school liaison handbook (unpublished manuscript).

  • US Department of Defense. (2011). Update to the report on assistance to local educational agencies for defense dependents education. Arlington, VA: Department of Defense.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wadsworth, S. M. M. (2010). Family risk and resilience in the context of war and terrorism. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 537–556. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00717.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, E. G., & Weber, D. K. (2005). Geographic relocation frequency, resilience, and military adolescent behavior. Military Medicine, 170(7), 638–642.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webster-Stratton, C. (1990). Stress: A potential disruptor of parent perceptions and family interactions. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19(4), 302–312. doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp1904_2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willerton, E., Wadsworth, S. M., & Riggs, D. (2011). Introduction: Military families under stress—What we know and what we need to know. New York, NY, USA: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7064-0_1.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant from the Penn State University Military Personnel and Families Research Initiative.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness, The Pennsylvania State University, 603 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA, 16801, USA

    Keith R. Aronson & Daniel F. Perkins

Authors
  1. Keith R. Aronson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel F. Perkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keith R. Aronson.

Appendix

Appendix

Issues Marine School-Aged Children are Facing

How often are you dealing with the following challenges that Marine school-aged children may encounter?

1 = never

2 = rarely

3 = fairly often

4 = very often

  1. (a)

    poor academic performance

  2. (b)

    lack of social connections

  3. (c)

    problems with school transitions

  4. (d)

    discipline problems at school

  5. (e)

    discipline problems at home

  6. (f)

    involvement in delinquent activities (gangs, drugs, crime)

  7. (g)

    feeling worried, anxious, traumatized by parent’s deployment or redeployment

  8. (h)

    children with special education needs

  9. (i)

    children with disabilities

  10. (j)

    lack of leisure or extra-curricular activities

How much of a problem are the following issues for the Marine school-aged children with whom you work?

1 = not at all problematic

2 = slightly problematic

3 = moderately problematic

4 = very problematic

  1. (a)

    poor academic performance

  2. (b)

    lack of social connections

  3. (c)

    problems with school transitions

  4. (d)

    discipline and acting out problems at school

  5. (e)

    discipline and acting out problems at home

  6. (f)

    involvement in delinquent activities (gangs, drugs, crime)

  7. (g)

    feeling worried, anxious, traumatized by parent’s deployment or redeployment

  8. (h)

    children with special education needs

  9. (i)

    children with disabilities

  10. (j)

    lack of leisure or extra-curricular activities

What are some of the other challenges Marine children and youth are dealing with?

Issues Marine Families are Facing

How often are you dealing with the following issues/challenges that Marine families may be encountering?

1 = never

2 = rarely

3 = fairly often

4 = very often

  1. (a)

    multiple deployments

  2. (b)

    long deployments

  3. (c)

    parenting problems (e.g., not sure how to handle children, use of ineffective parenting strategies)

  4. (d)

    conflicts with the schools or school policy

  5. (e)

    families feeling overwhelmed

  6. (f)

    parental depression, anxiety, or other emotional challenges

  7. (g)

    parental substance use/abuse

  8. (h)

    combat injured parent

  9. (i)

    marital problems

How much of a problem are the following issues for the Marine families with whom you work?

1 = not at all problematic

2 = slightly problematic

3 = moderately problematic

4 = very problematic

  1. (a)

    multiple deployments

  2. (b)

    long deployments

  3. (c)

    parenting problems (e.g., not sure how to handle children, use of ineffective parenting strategies)

  4. (d)

    conflicts with the schools or school policy

  5. (e)

    families feeling overwhelmed

  6. (f)

    parental depression, anxiety, or other emotional challenges

  7. (g)

    parental substance use/abuse

  8. (h)

    combat injured parent

  9. (i)

    marital problems

What are some of the other common issues and concerns of Marine families that you are hearing about or working on?

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aronson, K.R., Perkins, D.F. Challenges Faced by Military Families: Perceptions of United States Marine Corps School Liaisons. J Child Fam Stud 22, 516–525 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9605-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9605-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation