Impact of military deployment to Filipino children's well-being: A qualitative study

• Main Author: Bajin, Lalaine N.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Families of military personnel > Philippines > Mindanao; Children of military personnel; Well-being; Clinical Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5953; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12960&context=etd_masteral
• Institution: De La Salle University

The current study explored the experiences of military families specifically children with deployed combatant military parent assigned in conflict areas of Mindanao, specific to Zamboanga City, Basilan province, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (ZAMBASULTA). Findings of the study suggested that participant’s experiences vary according to adaptability to the military life situation and demands. Also, experiences are influenced by the challenges faced by the participants depending on the coping style that one individual holds. Literatures show that military deployment is significantly related with negative effects for children and high risk of mental conditions such as anxiety and depression. In the current study, it be argued that combat military deployment in the Philippines deals with positive outcomes for children like sense of responsibility and mobilization of household chores while the military parent is away from home. Nonetheless, the participants also experience difficulties that are inclined to how they think and feel knowing that their military parent is at war. This qualitative-phenomenological study focused on the experiences of children with military parents deployed in combat areas. Experiences were specific to the challenges, coping styles, and thoughts and feelings of the children that affects their well-being. A semi-structured, in-depth one-on-one interview was conducted to ten (10) participants with six (6) males and four (4) females to acquire narrative stories of the military life situations. Using thematic analysis, themes emerged and triangulation process took place in analyzing the data. The outcomes include increased emotional maturity, development of self-sufficiency, sense of responsibility, and even greater appreciation and empathy towards family members. Keywords: Military deployment, combatant, experiences, well-being, Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi (ZAMBASULTA), and Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM)