Paternal PTSD or depression, adolescent mental health, and family functioning: A study of UK military families

Limited research has explored the relationships between paternal mental health, adolescent offspring mental health, and family functioning in United Kingdom military populations. The authors investigated this in a study of 105 serving and ex-serving members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, with adolescent offspring ages 11 to 17 years. It was found military fathers with symptoms of PTSD or depression had more family difficulties, particularly around communication. Their adolescent offspring were also more likely to meet criteria for mental health disorders. These findings demonstrate the importance of supporting military fathers and their families with mental health and well-being. Introduction: Adolescent mental health and family functioning have received limited attention in UK military families. This study investigated their association with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in military fathers. Methods: In total, 105 serving and ex-serving members of the UK Armed Forces, and 137 of their adolescent offspring (ages 11 to 17 years), were included in this cross-sectional secondary data analysis. Data were collected online and at home using validated questionnaires. Results: Probable PTSD or depression was associated with more impaired general family functioning (unadjusted b = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.07-0.35; p = 0.003) and increased likelihood of adolescent mental health disorders (unadjusted OR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.10-4.81; p = 0.027). The direction and strength of these associations did not substantially change after adjusting for covariates. Discussion: This highlights the importance of supporting the well-being of military families, especially when parents have mental health problems. Introduction : La sant & eacute; mentale des adolescent(e)s et le fonctionnement familial ont re & ccedil;u peu d'attention dans les familles de Forces arm & eacute;es du Royaume-Uni. Cette & eacute;tude a examin & eacute; leur association avec le trouble de stress post-traumatique (TSPT) et la d & eacute;pression chez les p & egrave;res militaires. M & eacute;thodologie : Au total, 105 membres en service ou lib & eacute;r & eacute;s des Forces arm & eacute;es du Royaume-Uni et 137 de leurs enfants adolescent(e)s (de 11 & agrave; 17 ans) ont & eacute;t & eacute; inclus(e)s dans cette analyse de donn & eacute;es secondaires transversales. Les donn & eacute;es ont & eacute;t & eacute; recueillies en ligne et & agrave; la maison & agrave; l'aide de questionnaires valid & eacute;s. R & eacute;sultats : Un TSPT ou une d & eacute;pression probable & eacute;tait associ & eacute; & agrave; une plus grande perturbation du fonctionnement familial g & eacute;n & eacute;ral (b non corrig & eacute; = 0,21; IC & agrave; 95 %, 0,07 & agrave; 0,35; p = 0,003) et & agrave; une probabilit & eacute; accrue de troubles de sant & eacute; mentale chez les adolescent(e)s (RC non corrig & eacute; = 2,30; IC & agrave; 95 %, 1,10 & agrave; 4,81; p = 0,027). L'orientation et la force de ces associations n'ont pas tellement chang & eacute; apr & egrave;s correction pour tenir compte des covariables. Discussion : Ces constats font ressortir l'importance de soutenir le bien-& ecirc;tre des familles de militaires, particuli & egrave;rement lorsque les parents & eacute;prouvent des probl & egrave;mes de sant & eacute; mentale.