Regular Article/Psychological Consequences of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Combat-injured service members and their families: The relationship of child distress and spouse-perceived family distress and disruption

  1. Stephen J. Cozza1,*,
  2. Jennifer M. Guimond1,
  3. Jodi B. A. McKibben1,
  4. Ryo S. Chun2,
  5. Teresa L. Arata-Maiers3,
  6. Brett Schneider4,
  7. Alan Maiers5,
  8. Carol S. Fullerton6,
  9. Robert J. Ursano6

Article first published online: 9 FEB 2010

DOI: 10.1002/jts.20488

Issue

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Special Issue: Psychological Consequences of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Volume 23, Issue 1, pages 112–115, February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Cozza, S. J., Guimond, J. M., McKibben, J. B. A., Chun, R. S., Arata-Maiers, T. L., Schneider, B., Maiers, A., Fullerton, C. S. and Ursano, R. J. (2010), Combat-injured service members and their families: The relationship of child distress and spouse-perceived family distress and disruption. J. Traum. Stress, 23: 112–115. doi: 10.1002/jts.20488

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD

  2. 2

    Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

  3. 3

    Warrior Resiliency Program, San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, TX

  4. 4

    Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

  5. 5

    Warrior Resiliency Program, San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, TX

  6. 6

    Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD

*Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University, 6700A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 FEB 2010
  2. Article first published online: 9 FEB 2010

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Abstract

Combat injury in military service members affects both child and family functioning. This preliminary study examined the relationship of child distress postinjury to preinjury deployment-related family distress, injury severity, and family disruption postinjury. Child distress postinjury was assessed by reports from 41 spouses of combat-injured service members who had been hospitalized at two military tertiary care treatment centers. Families with high preinjury deployment-related family distress and high family disruption postinjury were more likely to report high child distress postinjury. Spouse-reported injury severity was unrelated to child distress. Findings suggest that early identification and intervention with combat-injured families experiencing distress and disruption may be warranted to support family and child health, regardless of injury severity.

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