Peer-reviewed article
Child well-being when fathers return from prison
Anna Yaros, Derek Ramirez, Stephen Tueller, Tasseli E. McKay, Christine Lindquist et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looked at how children's emotional and behavioural problems changed over 34 months after their fathers were released from prison. It followed 431 children aged 6 to 17, using reports from fathers and their female partners. Problems increased among older children, and internalizing problems (such as anxiety or withdrawal) increased when fathers had problem alcohol use. Living with the father and the quality of the father–child relationship changed these patterns. The authors suggest that programmes supporting fathers' well-being and father–child relationships before and after release may help children.
Key points
- Most incarcerated men are fathers, but little research has looked at children's well-being after the father's release.
- Children's internalizing and externalizing problems were measured over 34 months (n = 431, ages 6–17).
- Internalizing and externalizing problems increased in older children.
- Internalizing problems increased when fathers had problem alcohol use.
- Father–child coresidence and the father–child relationship moderated the results.
Limitations
Only the abstract is available, so sample details, effect sizes and methods are not visible. The children's problems were reported by fathers and female partners rather than by the children, and the study is observational, so it cannot show that any programme works.
Abstract
A majority of men incarcerated are fathers, but little research has been conducted on the children’s well-being after their father’s release from incarceration. We measured changes in internalizing and externalizing problems (based on father’s and female partner’s report) across a 34-month period among children ages 6–17 (n = 431). Results suggested increased internalizing and externalizing problems in older children, increased internalizing problems when fathers had problem alcohol use, and a moderating role of father–child coresidence and father–child relationship. Programs to promote paternal well-being and father–child relationships before and after reentry may benefit children of incarcerated fathers.