Mental Health of Adolescents with Currently and Formerly Incarcerated Parents

Overview

Journal J Adolesc

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2016 Dec 25

PMID 28011442

Citations 18

Authors

Laurel Davis

Rebecca J Shlafer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Reliable information about children of incarcerated people is difficult to obtain, and major gaps exist in our understanding of their well-being. This study aims to determine whether adolescents with incarcerated parents report higher levels of mental health problems than those without an incarcerated parent, and whether the relationship between parental incarceration and adolescent mental health is moderated by parent-child relationships. Using a statewide survey from one US state, we compared adolescents with a currently incarcerated parent to those with a formerly incarcerated parent and those with no history of parental incarceration on self-reported indicators of mental health, and examined whether strong parent-child relationships were protective against mental health concerns. Results indicate that adolescents with incarcerated parents are at elevated risk for mental health problems, and strong parent-child relationships partially buffer children from risk. Findings underscore the need for more investment in effective early interventions for adolescents in highly adverse contexts.

Citing Articles

Racial Disparities in the Relationship between Parental Incarceration and Childhood Obesity.

Li Q, Colen C Popul Res Policy Rev. 2024; 43(4).

PMID: 39524486 PMC: 11542704. DOI: 10.1007/s11113-024-09908-0.

Commercially Sexually Exploited Adolescent Girls: The Association Between Externalizing Disorders and Parental Incarceration with Suicide Attempts.

Schiff S, Meza J, Bath E, Lee S Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2024; .

PMID: 38935209 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-024-01730-1.

Parental Legal System Involvement, Positive Childhood Experiences, and Suicide Risk.

Bravo L, Meza J, Schiff S, Ahmed C, Elliot T, La Charite J Pediatrics. 2024; 153(6).

PMID: 38779781 PMC: 11153318. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-062566.

Enhancing the Focus: How Does Parental Incarceration Fit into the Overall Picture of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)?.

Rhodes C, Thomas N, OHara K, Hita L, Blake A, Wolchik S Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2023; 51(12):1933-1944.

PMID: 37875642 PMC: 11008286. DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01142-0.

Family reunification after fathers are released from prison: Perspectives on children's adjustment.

Muentner L, Charles P Fam Relat. 2023; 72(3):1068-1087.

PMID: 37583767 PMC: 10424776. DOI: 10.1111/fare.12739.

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