Father Absence Effects on Military Children.

Abstract

The effects of father absence on military children were studied by use of a questionnaire and personal interviews. The sample consisted of U.S. military officers and their dependents stationed at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. The study focused on the nature of the absence and how that affected the children's emotional stability and child development. In addition, some coping mechanisms were studied to determine if these aided in coping with separation. (Author)

The effects of father absence on military children were studied by use of a questionnaire and personal interviews. The sample consisted of U.S. military officers and their dependents stationed at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. The study focused on the nature of the absence and how that affected the children's emotional stability and child development. In addition, some coping mechanisms were studied to determine if these aided in coping with separation. The study concluded that no significant relationship between emotional problems or child development and father absence existed for those in the sample. The coping mechanisms used in the study were found to be of great value in aiding the children and families to deal with separation.