Military life and child development: Examining the relationship between military life and emotional intelligence among adult military children

Abstract:The military lifestyle presents unique challenges for military children, including parental separations due to deployments and frequent forced relocations, which can lead to increased stress levels and academic and behavioral challenges. While existing research emphasized the impact of military stressors during childhood, there is a need for further research on the emotional outcomes of these experiences into adulthood to guide effective support programs and military policies. In this study, I explored if the number of parental deployments, the number of family moves, and the perceived relationship with the military and non-military parent predictedthe emotional intelligence of adult children whose parents were in the military. A predictive correlational design was used, and data were collected using the Self-Rated Emotional Intelligence Scale (SREIS), the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS), and a researcherdeveloped Military Child Demographics Survey (MCDS). The sample (N = 56) was comprised of adult military children between the ages of 18-35 who had a father serving active duty in the US military during their childhood. I conducted multiple regression analysis to analyze the data for this study. It was discovered that the number of parental deployments, the number of family moves, and the perceived parental relationships did not statistically predict emotional intelligence. Given that these findings suggest that military stressors may not directly predict levels of emotional intelligence, it will be worthwhile for future investigations to focus on whichprotective factors and therapeutic programs effectively build resilience and buffer against stress in military children.

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