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A recent scoping review indicated military-connected children face stressors that may increase mental health issues. However, the majority of the included literature was American. To examine the experiences of Canadian military-connected children, we conducted in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of Canadian military-connected youth using a qualitative description approach. We conducted a content analysis on interview data, supported by qualitative data analysis software (MAXQDA), with coding done by two researchers who met regularly to discuss coding agreement. Thirteen children in military families participated and described the mental health impact of frequent mobility, parental absence, and risk of parental injury. The experiences of our participants were consistent with the results of an earlier scoping review on this topic. Our results suggest improving military cultural competence among health care providers and enhancing parental support may positively impact child well-being. More research is needed to understand resilience and vulnerability among Canadian military-connected children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent scoping review found that stressors involved in the military lifestyle (i.e., frequent relocation, parental absence, and risk of parental injury) may be associated with mental health issues among military-children. However, most of the included studies were conducted in the United States with little Canadian representation. To examine the degree to which the scoping review findings are relevant to the Canadian context, we conducted a qualitative study and interviewed 37 parents in Canadian military families. Through the use of a qualitative description approach and content analysis, three themes were identified: 1. Military lifestyle factors have an impact on child mental health; 2. Military life can promote both resilience and vulnerability; and 3. Military lifestyle impacts on parental mental health had an impact on children. These themes align with the scoping review findings asserting that military lifestyle factors can influence child mental health and have significant implications for health care providers working with military-connected children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]