Background
It is imperative to look into the long-term effects of domestic abuse on children in military families. Since military life entails specific challenges, including frequent movements and the potential for parental deployment, children in these families may not experience the precise repercussions of domestic abuse as their counterparts in civilian life. By offering a thorough review of these long-term impacts, this study seeks to close a significant research gap. Understanding these effects is necessary for formulating targeted assistance and intervention plans that address the unique needs of military families facing such difficulties.
The core question driving this research is: What are the long-term psychological and social consequences for children exposed to domestic violence in military households, and what factors impact these consequences? The study makes an effort to present a thorough picture of domestic violence’s aftermath. It accomplishes this by focusing on the psychological and social components, addressing immediate physical safety, emotional well-being, and long-term social functioning and connections. To effectively design treatments that support the resilience and recovery of affected children, it will be imperative to identify the factors that influence these outcomes.
Methods
Design
The proposed study employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the long-term effects of domestic violence on children from military households in a comprehensive manner. By combining quantitative data—which can provide quantifiable insights into psychological and social outcomes—with qualitative data—which adds depth and context to these findings—this methodological design enables a rigorous analysis. Working with vital stakeholders, such as mental health specialists, education providers, and military family support services, to enhance the research process is crucial to this project. Involving these groups guarantees that the study’s conclusions are pertinent, can be used to support impacted children and families, and make it easier to obtain essential data and enroll participants (Hansson et al., 2022). Developing evidence-based and contextually appropriate therapies that cater to the unique requirements of military families facing domestic abuse requires active stakeholder collaboration.
Participants
The study will use a purposive sample approach to guarantee a focus on those directly harmed. It will concentrate on children aged 10 to 18 from military households with documented cases of domestic abuse. According to Sullivan et al. (2020), working with this particular demographic will enable a thorough examination of the complex sensations and results that arise from this kind of exposure. Efforts to find and engage potential participants will be made possible through partnerships with military support organizations that have access and trust within the community.
Data Collection Methods
To obtain both quantitative and qualitative insights, data collection will use a combination of in-depth interviews and online questionnaires. Based on the methodology of Sullivan et al. (2020), IRB consent will be explained at the beginning of the survey and reaffirmed before the start of the interviews to guarantee participant understanding and ethical compliance. Trained research assistants will gather the data, and coded IDs will be used to protect confidentiality and anonymity. The study team will be the only ones with access to all encrypted digital formats in which the acquired data is kept safe, protecting participant privacy and security.
Measure 1
The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), a widely accepted tool for measuring behavioral and emotional issues in children, will be used to evaluate the first measure, psychological outcomes, statistically. The 113 items in the CBCL cover a wide range of topics, including anger, despair, and anxiety, and participants’ caregivers will respond to them (Guerrera et al., 2019). Domestic violence’s psychological effects on children from military households can be more thoroughly examined thanks to this instrument. From “Not True” to “Very True or Often True,” the response options provide a thorough understanding of each child’s psychological condition.
Measure 2
Using the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), a tool designed to evaluate children’s social competencies such as cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution, social outcomes for Measure 2 will be assessed. Similar to the findings reported by Soares et al. (2020), the SSRS comprises precisely 57 items with response options ranging from “Never” to “Always” to measure how frequently particular social behaviors occur. Employing this measure in the study will provide quantitative information about the social functioning of children affected by domestic violence in military households, which will help understand their resilience and social adaptation problems. The SSRS is an excellent tool for this research due to its established validity and reliability.
Data Analysis Plan
This study’s data analysis plan will combine descriptive and inferential statistics to thoroughly interpret the gathered data. In approaches similar to those of Sullivan et al. (2020), descriptive statistics will provide mean scores, standard deviations, and distributions to summarize children’s psychological and social outcomes. Regression analysis, an inferential statistical technique, will then be employed to investigate the correlations between the psychological and social consequences and exposure to domestic violence, marking trends and forecasting possible effects on the children involved.
Discussion
Limitations and Feasibility
Due to the sensitive nature of domestic abuse and its effects on military families, this study may have limitations that discourage participation, such as the difficulty in getting a representative sample. To improve trust and involvement, limitations will be minimized by maintaining participants’ confidentiality and by working with military support services (Sullivan et al., 2020). Therefore, securing a broad and diverse participant base for the study depends on properly addressing these ethical and recruitment challenges.
Translation to Practice and Dissemination Plan
By describing the long-term psychological and social effects of domestic violence on children in military families—a topic that has not received enough attention in the literature—the study is expected to produce new knowledge. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study will provide detailed insights into the elements that reduce or increase these impacts (Timans et al., 2019). The findings will play a crucial role in closing the current knowledge gap by providing evidence-based recommendations for focused treatments. Dissemination strategies include presentations at conferences devoted to military family welfare and publication in peer-reviewed publications, guaranteeing that study findings influence policy, practice, and scholarly inquiry.
Ethical Considerations
Respecting and protecting individuals is a profession-wide principle, and our study reflects that by prioritizing participant welfare, informed consent, and confidentiality. Strict confidentiality guidelines and comprehensive informed consent processes ensure that participants fully understand their involvement and can opt out without any consequences (Hansson et al., 2022). Nevertheless, because of its particular focus on military families, the study might not accurately reflect all ideals, such as total inclusion, which could limit the generalizability of its findings to other communities. Furthermore, the delicate subject matter of the study may limit participants’ engagement, cast doubt on the significance of thorough participant representation, and affect the range of information gathered. The constraints above highlight the ethical measures implemented to balance research goals and the critical duty of upholding and protecting participant rights.
References
Guerrera, S., Menghini, D., Napoli, E., Di Vara, S., Valeri, G., & Vicari, S. (2019). Assessment of psychopathological comorbidities in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder using the child behavior checklist. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 1–8.
Hansson, K. M., Romøren, M., Weimand, B., Heiervang, K. S., Hestmark, L., Landeweer, E., & Pedersen, R. (2022). The duty of confidentiality during family involvement: Ethical challenges and possible solutions in the treatment of persons with psychotic disorders. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1), 1–13.
Soares, E. E., Bausback, K. B., Beard, C. L., Higinbotham, M. K., Bunge, E. L., & Gengoux, G. (2020). Social skills training for autism spectrum disorder: A Meta-analysis of in-person and technological interventions. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 6(1), 166–180.
Sullivan, K., Hawkins, S. A., Gilreath, T. D., & Castro, C. A. (2020). Mental health outcomes associated with risk and resilience among military‐connected youth. Family Process, 60(2), 507–522.
Timans, R., Wouters, P., & Heilbron, J. (2019). Mixed methods research: What it is and what it could be. Theory and Society, 48(2), 193–216.