The effects of occupational stress injuries on the children of women Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces

The military imposes significant demands on both its members and their families, particularly the children of military families. Military parents, including a large proportion of single mothers, face heightened risks of illness, injury, and death, as well as frequent relocations and absences due to training and deployments. This can have profound impacts on the physical and mental health of military children. Women in the military are uniquely affected, experiencing higher rates of mental health issues and military sexual trauma, which are often overlooked. This project aims to explore the effects of occupational stress injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, on the children of women veterans, with the goal of informing policy recommendations to better support this underserved population. The research will involve a scoping review and interviews with adult children of women veterans, taking a sex and gender-based analysis approach to identify gaps in services and understand the long-term impacts on military families, women’s military service, and the transition from military to civilian life.