title: Impact of deployment on military families with young children: A systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  More than 40% of children in military families are <6 years old, a period when children are most dependent on their parents' physical and emotional availability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review describes the impact of deployment since 9/11 on the mental health of military families with young children, evaluates evidence-based interventions for military parents with young children, and identifies gaps in the science limiting our ability to support the needs of these families.
  
  
  METHODS
  Databases were reviewed from 2001 to 2014 using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses approach; 26 studies met review criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deployment was associated with increased parent stress, child behavior problems, health care utilization, and child maltreatment. Few studies tested interventions or focused on racial/ethnic minority or veteran families. A number of methodological limitations are noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More research using multiple methods, stronger designs, and more diverse samples is needed to understand and address the needs of military families with young children.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address: jtrautm1@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alhusen
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel; D008913:Minority Groups; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D014195:Travel / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Child mental health; Health disparities; Mental health; Military families; Parenting; Review of literature; Systematic review; Veteran; Young children