Development of a model of well-being for children from military families in NATO countries

Abstract

Introduction: This article describes the development of a model of well-being for children from military families in NATO countries. Methods: The development comprised seven phases: (1) a review of the participating NATO countries’ literature (current theory and research); (2) an outline of the key elements of a model of child well-being; (3) the identification of potential indicators of child well-being; (4) the identification of the components and dimensions of child well-being; (5) a review and refinement of the model; (6) the inclusion of the military factors that influence child well-being; and (7) the development of a definition for child well-being. Results: Thematic analysis was used to identify the well-being indicators, dimensions, and components. The process was informed by the subject matter expertise of the NATO Human Factors Medicine Research Task Group-258 (NATO HFM RTG-258), the civilian literature, and military factors associated with child well-being. Discussion: Central to the developed child well-being model are five dimensions of child well-being: health, education, legal, material, and social (HELMS). This model is closely aligned with well-established models and measures of well-being – Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of human development, Minkkinen’s structural model of child well-being, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) measures of child-well-being. The proposed model takes into consideration relevant military factors that influence the well-being of children in military families.