The Impact of Military Fathers’ Mental Health on the Well-Being of Their Children Postdeployment: Findings From National Guard Fathers

Deployment and reintegration can be a source of significant stress for military service members and their families. In particular, military fathers’ mental health can have a significant impact on their children’s well-being. To examine this phenomenon during the postdeployment period, this study sampled 208 National Guard fathers and their partners. We specifically examined the link between fathers’ mental health symptoms (depression and PTSD) and children’s behavioral difficulties (as reported by the service member and their partner) at reintegration and 2 years postdeployment. Results indicate that higher levels of soldier depression at reintegration were associated with worse child behavioral outcomes. In addition, higher levels of soldier PTSD were linked with more child behavioral difficulties at 2 years postdeployment. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.