Nearly Invisible: The Psychosocial and Health Needs of Women with Male Partners in Prison

Abstract

Very little research has been conducted investigating the health status and social needs of women with incarcerated male partners, despite the large number of men from underserved communities who are currently incarcerated. Research with women who have incarcerated male partners has primarily focused on communicable disease risk and family interactions. Women with incarcerated partners are often mothering children who are at risk for early and repeated incarceration, behavioral problems, and poverty. Gaining a better understanding of the health and social needs, and the resources use of these women and their children may lead to developing policies and programs that help them better manage their health, as well as aid in strengthening their family relationships.

How families respond to the collateral consequences of incarceration and prisoner reentry

“…A growing number of studies shows that caring for a recently incarcerated family member is stress inducing and can negatively affect one's mental and physical health (Cooke, 2014; Grieb et al, 2014; Kampfner, 1995; Murray & Farrington, 2008). More than half of respondents reported that their mental and/or physical health had worsened as a result of their relative's incarceration and/or reentry.…”

“…Additionally, when taken together, the themes creating physical distance, indifference, and self-preservation suggest that family members who lacked social support resort to these coping mechanisms in an attempt to reduce the emotional and mental burden of caring for a recently incarcerated family member. Also related to prior literature was the theme avoiding social stigma (Arditti, 2005;Arditti, Lambert-Shute, et al, 2003;Cooke, 2014;Lee et al, 2014;Murray & Farrington, 2008). As the literature review described, family members experience stigma associated with their relative's incarceration, and this can have a detrimental effect on their social support networks.…”

“…As families support justice system–involved family members, they expend resources socially, emotionally, and financially as well as experience challenges related to transportation and their physical and mental well‐being. Socially and emotionally, individuals self‐report experiencing stigma associated with having a family member who is incarcerated (Arditti, 2005; Arditti et al, 2003; Cooke, 2014; Lee et al, 2014; Murray & Farrington, 2008). Individuals who perceive stigma might withdraw from relationships with family or friends, which can subsequently erode their support networks (Arditti, 2005).…”

“…Families explained how stress negatively affected their health in the form of hypertension, anxiety, and depression. Three additional studies (Cooke, 2014; Kampfner, 1995; Murray & Farrington, 2008) found negative effects of parental incarceration on children. Murray and Farrington's (2008) meta‐analysis revealed that children of incarcerated parents are two and a half times more likely to have mental health symptoms compared with children without incarcerated parents, and the effect on children can worsen if the incarcerated parent is the mother or if both parents are incarcerated for extended periods of time.…”

“…From arrest through incarceration, families often provide monetary support related to their family member's legal fees, the cost of travel required for visitations, deposits to commissary accounts, and communication‐related expenses (e.g., phone calls, phone cards, letter writing, and electronic messaging; Arditti, 2003; Comfort, 2007; Cooke, 2014; Green et al, 2006; Murray & Farrington, 2008). During reentry, families continue to support individuals on parole by providing housing, food, childcare, transportation, and day‐to‐day living expenses (Cooke, 2005; Western, 2018).…”