A Parent at War and the "Invisible Wounds" They Carry Home: PTSD in Military Veterans and a Review of Psychosocial Family System Challenges

<p>Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have created a new generation of military veterans and military families, many of which must manage and cope with psychosocial challenges such as posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse induced by the psychological trauma(s) faced during war. Risk factors, buffering factors, and war zone stressors influencing the development of PTSD following military-related trauma will be reviewed. As many of these affected veterans return to living with spouses and children, these psychosocial issues show to bring forth tension, stress, and friction to the family system. This thesis explores the literature of family system challenges faced by male and female U.S. veterans, and child outcomes.</p> <p>Through a review of empirical literature, a case will be made that not only does the veteran affect his/her spouse and child(ren) while enduring difficult psychological conditions, but the spouses and child(ren) also have a reciprocal effect on the veteran's coping efficacy and recovery process. Therefore, this text will contend that there is a need to view these mental health challenges as a family systems issue, with implications for a need to develop family system interventions for successful management and recovery for veterans, spouses, and children combined.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Liberal Studies

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Calle, Melina Sofia

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Colette Daiute

• Clinical Psychology
• Psychology
• Coping
• Family System
• Intervention
• Mental Health
• Military
• Trauma

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/181

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-1180