Military families carry unique adolescence burdens — often invisible to civilian society but real and significant.
Adolescence Challenges Unique to Military Families
- Deployment separation: Repeated separations create attachment disruption and anxiety for all family members
- Reintegration: Return from deployment requires major readjustment, often triggering adolescence
- Frequent relocation: PCS moves disrupt social supports that protect against adolescence
- Secondary trauma: Living with a service member with PTSD or adolescence creates secondary psychological impact
Children in Military Families and Adolescence
Military children are resilient but face significant adolescence risks. School changes, parent absence, and exposure to parent's adolescence all require specific support.
Resources for Military Family Adolescence
Military OneSource, Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC), and installation behavioral health services provide free or low-cost adolescence support for military families.