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LeonhardDonaLee2006 em.pdf (2.6 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Youth's Coping Strategies Used During a Parent's Military Development and Benefits Gained by Attending Ohio's Operation Purple Camp

Leonhard, Dona Lee
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392308882

Abstract Details

2006, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Human and Community Resource Development.
With the increasing number of deployments, Ohio 4-H is actively partnering with the military through Operation: Military Kids and other programs, such as the Wright Patterson Air Force Base 4-H program. As a result of this partnership, Ohio 4-H was invited to participate in Ohio's 2005 Operation Purple Camp, which was open to youth who had a deployed parent. Past research suggests that residential youth camps help youth develop life skills and teach campers how to positively cope with health conditions and personal stressors, yet little research has explored the benefits youth with deployed parents gain from attending such camps. The goals of this research were to determine camp benefits, measure youths’ coping strategies before and after camp and identify the changes made, determine the factors that affect coping strategies used, and study how campers’ attitudes towards deployment were impacted throughout the camp experience. The Double ABCX Model of Adjustment and Adaptation provided the theoretical framework for this study. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data at three different times from youth ages 8-15 who attended Ohio’s Operation Purple Camp. The Schoolagers Coping Strategies Inventory and camp assessments were used to collect data from this sample (n=140). Seven states were represented in the study. The average age of the participants was 12 years and the majority of the campers had a deployed parent at the time of camp. Overall, youth reported coping positively with their parent’s deployment both before and after camp. The most frequently reported coping strategies were also the most effective coping strategies reported. Although youth reported that a parent's deployment is hard to live with because they miss their deployed parent, they identified how they benefited and learned from the experience. More specifically, youth reported that doing something fun and controlling themselves were the most frequently used coping strategies, while doing something fun and praying were the most helpful coping strategies used when coping with a parent's deployment. Age, gender, parent's military status, and phase of deployment cycle all affected the coping strategies used by these youth. Youth reported that camp helped them build friendships with other youth who have a deployed parent, and it helped them to understand how they benefited from deployment. In conclusion, specialty camps provide a fun environment and a sense of belonging for youth with deployed parents. Campers returned home with an attitude that recognized the good side of deployment and allowed them to see how much they have learned from having a parent deployed. The implications of this study will be used in planning and implementing more programs and camps for youth with deployed parents, and training the staff who are working with youth of deployed parents in these programs and camps.
Theresa M. Ferrari (Advisor)
Scott D. Scheer (Committee Member)
162 p.
Individual and Family Studies

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Leonhard, D. L. (2006). Youth's Coping Strategies Used During a Parent's Military Development and Benefits Gained by Attending Ohio's Operation Purple Camp [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392308882

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Leonhard, Dona. Youth's Coping Strategies Used During a Parent's Military Development and Benefits Gained by Attending Ohio's Operation Purple Camp. 2006. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392308882.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Leonhard, Dona. "Youth's Coping Strategies Used During a Parent's Military Development and Benefits Gained by Attending Ohio's Operation Purple Camp." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392308882

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1392308882
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© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.