Military Deployment of an Adult Child: Ambiguous Loss and Boundary Ambiguity Reflected in the Experiences of Parents of Service Members |
| |
| Authors: | Janet R Crow Dennis R Myers James W Ellor Sara L Dolan Sandra Morissette |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USAjanet_crow@baylor.edu;3. Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA;4. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA;5. University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACTThis study explored the experiences of parents of service members, military family members who are often overlooked even though they are likely a vital source of support for their military adult-children. Reflections on deployment of military adult-children were gathered from 21 parents in semistructured group interviews. A framework of ambiguous loss, boundary ambiguity, and ambivalence was used to analyze comments reflecting pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment experiences. Pre-deployment anticipation of leave-taking was associated with boundary ambiguity and ambivalence for parents, tempered by safety concerns. During deployment ambiguity in parental role expectations and parameters complicated parents’ attempts to manage physical absence and maintain psychological presence. Post-deployment challenged parents with ambiguous psychological presence and disruption of family boundaries, complicated by changes associated with the effects of war. |
| |
| Keywords: | ambiguous loss/boundary ambiguity deployment (military) families as systems intergenerational processes parenthood/parenting |
|
|
