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. 2012 Mar;102 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S48-54.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2010.300088. Epub 2011 Nov 28.

Evaluation of a family-centered prevention intervention for military children and families facing wartime deployments

Patricia Lester  1 , William R Saltzman, Kirsten Woodward, Dorie Glover, Gregory A Leskin, Brenda Bursch, Robert Pynoos, William Beardslee
Affiliations

Evaluation of a family-centered prevention intervention for military children and families facing wartime deployments

Patricia Lester et al. Am J Public Health. 2012 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the Families OverComing Under Stress program, which provides resiliency training designed to enhance family psychological health in US military families affected by combat- and deployment-related stress.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of Families OverComing Under Stress program evaluation data that was collected between July 2008 and February 2010 at 11 military installations in the United States and Japan. We present data at baseline for 488 unique families (742 parents and 873 children) and pre-post outcomes for 331 families.

Results: Family members reported high levels of satisfaction with the program and positive impact on parent-child indicators. Psychological distress levels were elevated for service members, civilian parents, and children at program entry compared with community norms. Change scores showed significant improvements across all measures for service member and civilian parents and their children (P < .001).

Conclusions: Evaluation data provided preliminary support for a strength-based, trauma-informed military family prevention program to promote resiliency and mitigate the impact of wartime deployment stress.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Reduction in prevalence of parental symptoms by phase (intake or postintervention): Families OverComing Under Stress, United States and Japan, July 2008–February 2010. Note. BSI = Brief Symptom Inventory; FAD = McMaster Family Assessment Device. All non–active duty (NAD) and active duty (AD) pre–post changes are significant (P < .001). Unhealthy functioning is indicated by a FAD score ≥ 2; only percentages > 2 are shown. We used BSI manual gender-specific clinically significant symptoms cutoffs; The figure shows percentages greater than the cutoff.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Reduction in prevalence of child symptoms by phase (intake or postintervention): Families OverComing Under Stress, United States and Japan, July 2008–February 2010. Note. The single-sample t-test against null hypothesis (no change) was significant (P < .001) for all scales. Subscales are from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Per the manual, the cutoff for “normal,” conduct problems: 2; emotional symptoms: 3; total difficulties: 13. Percentages greater than normal are shown.
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