Impact of deployment on military families with young children: A systematic review

Background: More than 40% of children in military families are <6 years old, a period when children are most dependent on their parents' physical and emotional availability. Purpose: This systematic review describes the impact of deployment since 9/11 on the mental health of military families with young children, evaluates evidence-based interventions for military parents with young children, and identifies gaps in the science limiting our ability to support the needs of these families. Methods: Databases were reviewed from 2001 to 2014 using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses approach; 26 studies met review criteria. Results: Deployment was associated with increased parent stress, child behavior problems, health care utilization, and child maltreatment. Few studies tested interventions or focused on racial/ethnic minority or veteran families. A number of methodological limitations are noted. Conclusions: More research using multiple methods, stronger designs, and more diverse samples is needed to understand and address the needs of military families with young children.