Air Force single parent mothers and maternal separation anxiety

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of maternal separation anxiety and general anxiety of deployed Air Force single parent mothers in relation to military deployment and retention. The study also assessed the affect of deployment on the reenlistment intentions and rationale of Air Force single parent mothers. Sixty-nine Air Force single custodial parent mothers from the Headquarters Air Force Material Command, who had physical custody of their children, were administered Web-based surveys. There were two groups in the study. The first group consisted of 20 Air Force single parent mothers who were scheduled for deployment within 30 to 180 days for a period of six months; the second group consisted of 49 single parent mothers who were not scheduled for deployment. The results of the study indicated there was no significant difference in the level of separation anxiety, separation effects, and employment-related concerns of deploying and non-deploying Air Force single parent mothers. However, Air Force single parent mothers experienced a greater level of separation anxiety and employment related concerns than Army single military fathers, but there were no significant difference in separation effects. The study also suggested that Air Force single parent mothers and Army military fathers had similar emotions and concerns when balancing a career and a family during deployment and separation.