Military Parents, Research Paper Example

The article written by Greenberg et al. (2010) investigated the relationship between perceived invincibility, demographic factors, and risk behaviors in children with both active duty military parents and retired military parents.  The study was conducted using an Adolescent Invincibility Tool (AIT) and included a total of 125 subjects.   In order to analyze the data collected, a correlational analysis was applied to compare the relationships between factors.  The results of the study indicated that the Adolescent Invincibility Tool was reliable in measuring invincibility in the data collected.  In addition, the results showed that the subject’s characteristics and demographic factors, such as sex, age, ethnic background, and relocation differences were significantly different to the adolescent’s perceived invincibility.  Furthermore, it was found that relocation frequency and parent ranking in the military were significant factors in the military sample population.  For instance, a positive correlation was found between aggressive and reckless behavior and the invincibility factor and a negative correlation was found between worrisome and invincibility.  Overall, the study provided insight to the type of influential factors related to adolescents of military active duty parents or retired military parents.  The study resulted in significant differences among military teens when compared to national surveys with similar factors.  In fact, risk behaviors were observed at a lower occurrence in military families compared to the nationwide average; however, depression occurred at a higher frequency in adolescents from military families.  (Greenberg et al., 2010)

The Introduction to the paper written by Greenberg et al. (2010) provides background information on the behaviors, such as risk behaviors in teens.  The authors indicate that risk behaviors are problems for teens due to the resulting outcome and the belief of invincibility that teens carry in regard to the notion that the consequences will not happen to them. The authors proceed to describe the types of risk taking behavior that is exhibiting in teens, such as sexual behaviors, alcohol and drug use, and risky motorized vehicle use. In addition, the authors indicate that the risk behaviors differ depending on the adolescent socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and age.  Furthermore, the authors indicate that adolescents from two-parent homes have better health outcomes compared to single parent homes.  Therefore, the authors suggest that due to active military families, one of the parents is separated from the home, creating a single parent home.  The authors also suggest that family relocation in the military results in change of school, which can be linked to high risk behavior.  (Greenberg et al., 2010)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between independent variables such as demographics, socioeconomic status, age, gender, family relocation frequency and parent military ranking and dependent variables, such as invincibility and risk behaviors. The authors hypothesize that there is a significant difference in factors between military adolescents and non-military adolescents.  In order to determine the relationships, the researchers obtained data from 125 teens from a military medical facility using the AIT method.    The AIT method collected information testing problem areas in the teens, as well as determining the teens’ worries about their risk of sexually transmitted diseases.  The data was collected through completed questionnaire packets, which were further coded and entered into a database for statistical evaluation using univariate and bivariate methods in a SPSS 12.0 program.  The authors present a Table illustrating the questionnaire provided to the subjects.  In addition, the authors provide tables with the breakdown of subject characteristics, such as gender, age, military status, ethnicity, etc. The results of the study showed that teens of enlisted parents exhibited the highest score in the risk category compared to teens of parents who were officers.  In addition, the study found the sexual behavior and substance abuse behavior was lower in military teens compared to non-military teens.  Furthermore, it was found that invincibility scores were higher in 16-17 year olds compared to 20 year olds.  The results are illustrated in a table format as percentages between military and youth from surveillance system (national results).  (Greenberg et al., 2010)

The study provided information in regard to resulting behavior and influences in adolescents from military families and the study has suggested that there are significant differences between military teens and non-military teens in regard to risk behaviors and mental health indicators, such as depression.  It was noted, however, that the AIT was given to low-risk teens and therefore, results may differ to higher risk groups.  In addition, the study design did not provide insight into the identification of the causality in regard to AIT scores.  The findings of this study suggest the need for health intervention for military adolescents, such as education, counseling, and screening.  (Greenberg et al., 2010)

The authors provided sufficient background information to support their hypothesis in order to obtain their results and suggestions.  For instance, the authors defined risk behaviors and risk taking in teens and used previous literature to support their background information.  In addition, the authors provide background information on other variables, such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and the relationship between these factors and high risk behavior.  For example, the authors use previous statistical research to illustrate that high risk behaviors are associated with poverty and lower social class, as well as parental education levels.  The authors also describe their reasoning for choosing adolescents from active military families.  Previous research has found that two-parent families have a better health outcome compared to single-parent families.  The authors indicate that some military families have parents that are sent away on active duty resulting in separation form the family, which creates a single parent family environment.  Although, technically there is only one parent physically present when the other parent is sent an active duty, it cannot be justified that it is a true single family home.  For instance, military families who are separated do not lose the income of one of the parent.  In addition, the parents are not divorced and the child doesn’t have the stresses that go with divorce, separation or extended families. Therefore, to compare military families to single parent environment should be further analyzed.

The Adolescent Invincibility Tool (AIT) used in the study was a new method created specifically for the study; therefore, there was no literature supporting this method and its actual reliability.  The authors also indicate that the data was analyzed using univariate and bivariate approaches; however, there was no statistical data represented in figures or charts.  The authors provided percentages of their results.  Perhaps the percentages should have been compared between military teens and non-military teens in order to obtain a statistical relationship between factors.  For instance, a correlation analysis could have been implemented in order to positive or negative correlations.

The study design also had setbacks.  The majority of the adolescents used in the study were female and only four 20 year olds were analyzed compared to numbers ranging from 24-35 teens in the 14-19 year old groupings.  The authors mention in the introduction that gender and age are factors for risk behavior.  In order to obtain more reliable results, the same number of males and females should be used in the study.  In addition, the age groups of the teens should also equal the same amounts, as well as other factors.  For instance, the authors indicate that 20 years exhibited lower levels of risk behavior compared to younger ages; however, when looking at the difference in the sample size, the results could be skewed.   The authors also used students with retired military parents.  Retired military parents do not undergo deployment and are therefore not single-parent homes and more than likely are not part of the family relocation factor either.  Therefore, the study should have only included active military families.

Overall, the study did result in potential suggestions for counseling and screening for medical professionals to implement into programs for adolescents with parents in the military.  In addition, the study further suggested the reliability of the AIT method for identifying adolescents with a higher risk of invincibility behavior and risky behavior.

References

Wickman, M. RN, Greenberg, C. Boren, D. PhD.,  (2010).  The Relationship of Perception of Invincibility, Demographics, and Risk Behaviors in Adolescents of Military Parents. Journal of Pediatric Healthcare. 24(1):25-33.