18th Annual Student Research Conference
Education
Unique Stresses of Department of Defense Dependents School Students: Observations of a 1st Grade Class in Bamberg, Germany
Elizabeth A. Zimmermann♦
Dr. Jeff Gall, Faculty Mentor
Department of Defense Dependents Schools students experience unique stresses due to having one or both of their parents in the military. Children may have to deal with one or more parents being deployed, or being away for extended periods of time for training. They also have to deal with the fact that their parents may have dangerous jobs, may come home injured, or may not return home at all. Although children are excited to be reunited with their parents, their reunion may be another cause of stress. Participants in this study were 1st grade students on an Army post in Bamberg, Germany. Approximately half of the students in the class had one or both parents deployed to Iraq. How students dealt with their parents’ deployment was observed throughout the semester. Each student’s reaction was unique. More research needs to be done on how teachers can better help their students cope.
Keywords: military, schools, stress, deployment, Army, Germany, children
Topic(s):Education
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 1-2
Location: OP 2113
Time: 8:30