Study shows children suffer in homes of parents with PTSD

By Staff Writer

Military members have a high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon returning from a tour of duty. However, research shows that children of these individuals can suffer from depression and trauma because of their parent's condition, The Star reports.

Researchers who were looking into the stresses on military children found that some kids struggle with the psychological and physical fallout of their parent's PTSD. A sociology professor at the University of New Brunswick and paper co-author, said that these adolescents can face physical abuse, emotional neglect and unpredictable rage from their parents.

Her early work looked at the cases of four teenagers whose fathers and stepdads had done multiple rotations in Afghanistan, Somalia or Bosnia, or were involved in other missions over the last decade. Three of the fathers had developed PTSD following their tours of duty in Afghanistan.

The paper suggests that parenting suffered for the four kids who were interviewed, with some having to take on adult responsibilities in the home.

Studies have shown that about 30 percent of veterans, 45 percent of battered women, 50 percent of sexually abused children and 35 percent of adult rape victims are likely to suffer from PTSD at some point in their lifetime, Emotional Tuning reports.