Questionnaire

The purpose of this study is to explore how child and parental separation in the military affect elementary age children and to explore interventions and programs that teachers use to help these children cope with military stresses. Because of the possible traumatizing effects, rather than collecting data directly from children, I am collecting data from adults whose parents were in the military when they were children.

I am currently a graduate student at Saint Michael's College and I am interested in this subject because I will be teaching in a school with a high population of military children, and would like to better understand the effects of parental deployment on these children.

Your responses and written comments to the survey are anonymous. If you are able and willing to participate in a follow up interview, please fill out the section at the end of the questionnaire.

You are invited to participate in this study because of your experience with military life and parental deployment.

I.  BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Are you male or female?

Male
Female

2. How old are you?

18-25
26-33
34-42
43+

3. What is your present rank (please specify)

Enlisted

Warrant Officer

Commissioned    

      Officer

PV1 (E1)

WO1 (W1)

2LT (01)

PV2 (E2)

CW2 (W2)

1LT (02)

PFC (E3)

CW3 (W3)

CPT (03)

CPL/SPC (E4)

CW4 (W4)

MAJ (04)

SGT (E5)

CW5 (W5)

LTC (05)

SSG (E6)

 

COL (06)+

SFC (E7)

 

 

MSG/1SG (E8)

 

 

SGM/CSM(E9)

 

 

4.  **As a child, between ages 5-12, was your parent(s) in the military?

Yes

If YES, please continue to Section II: Parent History

No

If NO, please stop here. Thank you.

II. PARENT HISTORY

Think back to ages 5-12, when your parent(s) were in the military to answer the following questions.

5.  Which parent(s) was in the military?

Father
Mother
Both

6.  What was your parent’s rank during that time?  (please specify below)

Father
Mother
 

Enlisted

Warrant Officer

Commissioned    

      Officer

PV1 (E1)

WO1 (W1)

2LT (01)

PV2 (E2)

CW2 (W2)

1LT (02)

PFC (E3)

CW3 (W3)

CPT (03)

CPL/SPC (E4)

CW4 (W4)

MAJ (04)

SGT (E5)

CW5 (W5)

LTC (05)

SSG (E6)

 

COL (06)+

SFC (E7)

 

 

MSG/1SG (E8)

 

 

SGM/CSM(E9)

 

 

 

7.  Please specify your parent(s) branch at that time: 

Father
Mother

8.  Was your parent(s) deployed in the following locations during the time periods indicated?  Mark all that apply.

    Does not apply

     Turkey/ Northern Iraq (March 1991-July 1991)

     Desert Shield/Storm in Persian Gulf/ Southwest Asia (August 1990-April 1991)

     Panama (December 1989- January 1990)

     Grenada (October 1983- November 1983)

    Vietnam (March 1962- January 1973)

 Other overseas deployment. (Please specify)

 

9.  How often, per year, was your parent(s) away from home because of military duties?
(Military duties include deployment, assignments, training, etc.)

Father
Mother

10.  How did you usually communicate about daily life with your parent when he or she was away?

   Telephone    

   Letters    

   Email    

Other (please specify)

 

III.  CHILDHOOD EVENTS

 

11.  Please describe the most difficult period of separation.  Describe events, memories, feelings, etc.

12.  Which symptoms did you exhibit while your parent(s) was deployed?  Please mark all that apply.

    Discipline problems

    Fear of darkness

   Fear of being alone

    Fear of new people

    Low self-esteem

    Decline in academics

    Aggressive behavior

    Excessive sadness

    Depression

    Feelings of resentment toward deployed parent(s)

    Guilt

    Mood swings

    Unexplained crying

    Irritability/ agitation

    Attachment to people or objects

    Difficulty sleeping (nightmares)

    Regressive behaviors

    Changes in eating

    Health complaints

    Disconnection with peers and adults

    Auditory hallucinations

    Visual hallucinations

Other (please specify)

 

13.  What positive long-term effect, if any, did parental separation have on you? Please explain.

14.  What negative long-term effect, if any, did parental separation have on you? Please explain.

15.  Describe your caregiver’s (mother, father, guardian, etc.) reaction to your parent(s) deployment.

IV.  SUPPORT

 

16.  As a child, who did you confide in most while your parent(s) was deployed?

    Parent    

    Friend    

    Other family member    

   Teacher     

    Counselor    

Other (please specify)

17.  What was your primary source for getting information about the well being of your parent and his or her deployment?

    School    

   Parent/ guardian at home    

    Media    

 Other (please specify)

 

18.  What activities helped you cope with separation?  Mark all that apply.

    Support groups

      One on one counseling

       Talking with family

       Writing/ journalizing

       Church

       Volunteer work

      Sports/ Clubs

 Other (please specify)

 

V.  ACADEMICS

19.  Between 5-12 years old, what kind of school(s) did you attend? Mark all that apply.

      Civilian school     

       Military school on post    

      Department of Defense school    

       Home school    

 Other (please specify)

 

20.  What changes in school behavior, if any, occurred while your parent(s) was deployed?

(Changes in behavior, grades, attitude, etc.)

21.  Think of your most influential teacher.  What characteristics did this teacher display that were most helpful and meaningful to you while your parent(s) was deployed?

(Ex. Compassion, listening, always allowing time to talk and grieve, etc.)

22.  Describe how your school was or was not accommodating to your needs during deployment.  (Describe specific events, memories, or feelings.)

What did I not ask that you would like to tell me about?  Please make any comments on related subjects that were not covered or that you feel strongly about and would like to elaborate on.

Thank you very much for completing this questionnaire!  It will clearly help me be a more effective teacher for children whose parents are in the military. Please press the submit button and your answers will be sent to me.

  

Optional Contact Information for follow up telephone interview to elaborate or clarify responses:

Name

Address

Telephone number

Email address

 

If you have any questions or concerns about this research project, please contact me (802) 655-2581 or hkopec@smcvt.edu