A qualitative exploration of the parenting experiences of ex-military fathers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Journal article


Sturgeon, M., Burgess, Gerald H. and Murphy, D. 2023. A qualitative exploration of the parenting experiences of ex-military fathers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Journal of Family Studies. 29 (5), pp. 2408-2429. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2023.2185160
AuthorsSturgeon, M., Burgess, Gerald H. and Murphy, D.
Abstract

The experience of post-traumatic stress has been implicated in adverse outcomes for trauma-exposed parents and their children. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how ex-military service (veteran) fathers who had received a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience and make sense of parenthood, their role as a father, and the parent-child relationship. Ten ex-military fathers from the UK who had been diagnosed with PTSD engaged in interviews which were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis resulted in four themes; ‘Not always being the father I want to be’, ‘Striving to protect’, ‘Developing insight and understanding’, and ‘Protective influence of children’. These themes captured participants’ experiences of the perceived negative impact of PTSD symptoms on parenting and an evolving view of the self as a parent in relation to this, taking action to protect children from distress and harm, the importance of developing insights and understanding both personally and within parent-child relationships, and the distracting and motivating influence of children and enjoyment of the parenting role despite the challenges experienced in the context of a PTSD diagnosis. Findings are discussed in relation to the extant literature, and clinical and research implications are outlined.

KeywordsParent; Father; Veteran; Trauma; PTSD
Year2023
JournalJournal of Family Studies
Journal citation29 (5), pp. 2408-2429
PublisherTaylor & Francis
ISSN1322-9400
1839-3543
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2023.2185160
Official URLhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13229400.2023.2185160
Publication dates
Online13 Mar 2023
Print03 Sep 2023
Publication process dates
Deposited22 Mar 2023
Accepted21 Feb 2023
Accepted author manuscript
License
Output statusPublished
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https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/942zz/a-qualitative-exploration-of-the-parenting-experiences-of-ex-military-fathers-diagnosed-with-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

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