Residuals of War: Families of Prisoners of War and Servicemen Missing in Action

Abstract

For a study of adjustment problems experienced by families of servicemen missing in action (MIA) or prisoners of war (PW), a total of 215 army, navy, and marine corps families were interviewed approximately one year prior to the release of the prisoners. Through personal, in‐depth interviews, data were collected on demographic factors, as well as psychological, social, and medical factors conceivably related to family and individual adjustment. Results indicated that the normal patterns of coping with father/husband absence were disturbed by the unprecedented and indeterminate length of his absence, and that much of the social acceptance, stability, and continuity which are taken for granted in the intact family was lacking or severely taxed in the PW/MIA family. Health care services to these families are discussed.