Anchored Together: Family Coregulation as a Protective Factor for Military Families in the Predeployment Phase
Date of Award
Summer 8-22-2026
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Kathryn Barrs
Second Advisor
Lavita Nadkarni
Third Advisor
John Mallory
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Military, Military family, Coregulation, Deployment, Predeployment, Mental health
Abstract
Military families experience many unique stressors related to their military affiliation. The deployment cycle is a particularly vulnerable time due to navigating changing schedules, new responsibilities, and family separation. These stressors can have an adverse impact on mental health and impair functioning in school, work, and interpersonal relationships. Unfortunately, military families often manage these symptoms in isolation. The focus of this paper will be the mental health impact of deployment on military parents and their families, specifically targeting the predeployment phase of the deployment cycle as it presents an opportunity to strengthen family structures through the concept of family coregulation. Family coregulation developed in the predeployment phase can help families establish a secure family base built on trust and safety that will continue through the entire deployment cycle and beyond.
Copyright Date
7-8-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Rights Holder
Mario Roberto Flores Mejia
Provenance
Received from Author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
44 pgs
File Size
1.23 MB
Recommended Citation
Flores Mejia, Mario Roberto, "Anchored Together: Family Coregulation as a Protective Factor for Military Families in the Predeployment Phase" (2026). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 610.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/610