Deployed and Home again: The influence of the cycle of Military deployment on parenting young children from naval families.

This qualitative study aims to explore how military deployment and the absence of a Serving parent influences the parenting behaviours of the non-serving parent, and the factors influencing a young child's ability to adapt to the absence of a parent.
Military deployment can present significant challenges for Service families, due to the unpredictable nature of Service life. In addition, Naval personnel deploy more frequently and for longer periods of time than other branches of the UK armed forces. 
Research highlights the importance of the non-serving parent’s well-being in promoting positive parenting practices, which supports the child’s resilience during times of disruption. However, most UK studies focus on older children, leaving a gap which this study aims to fill.

This study aims to explore, through the perspectives of the non-serving parents and early childhood professionals, how the cycle of military deployment, might influence the parenting of young children in naval families, and how protective and risk factors are perceived as influencing the young child's ability to adapt.

This study employs a qualitative narrative inquiry approach to explore the lived experiences of non-serving parents, on parenting young children (aged birth to 5 years old) during the absence of their partner. Early childhood professional’s perceptions of how parental deployment influences young Service children’s ability to cope with their parents absence, are also captured.
Data is collected from non-serving parents through two semi-structured interviews, around 3 months apart, plus an online deployment diary, using Microsoft Forms. Data from early years professionals is captured though one semi-structured interview.
There data collection methods, enable participants to share unique perspectives of parenting during deployment.
These narratives offer a rich subjective view of parenting during deployment, which cannot be captured through quantitative methods.

• How do non-serving parents from naval families describe their parenting practices during the different phases of deployment?
• What are the perceived protective and risk factors influencing young naval children's ability to adapt during the different phases of deployment, according to non-serving parents and the early childhood professionals?

Up to 20 non-serving parents of young Service children from naval families, who have in the last 12 months experienced deployment, or are currently experiencing the deployment of their partner.
Plus, up to 5 early childhood professionals working with young Service children in a nursery or pre-school setting.