The Effect of Paternal Incarceration on Early Child Behavioral Problems: A Racial Comparison

Abstract

This study uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine how the effect of a father's incarceration on the behavioral problems of preschool-age children differs by race/ethnicity. The model examines both internalizing behaviors as characterized by anxiety and depression as well as externalizing behaviors as characterized by aggression and violence. The study finds that paternal incarceration exacerbates externalizing behavioral problems in children regardless of gender and particularly for Blacks and Hispanics. The study finds no concrete evidence that paternal incarceration significantly influences internalizing behavioral problems in children.

Paternal incarceration and child-reported behavioral functioning at age 9

“…Studies on consequences of parental incarceration for children during early childhood show negative impacts across a range of non-cognitive skills, including physical aggression, behavior problems, and attentional capacities (Craigie, 2011;Geller et al, 2012;Haskins, 2014;Johnson, 2009;Wildeman, 2010). Effects across this pre-school age range are most robust for externalizing behaviors (aggression, acting out) and are mainly reported to be concentrated among boys.…”

Unintended Consequences: Effects of Paternal Incarceration on Child School Readiness and Later Special Education Placement

“…However, this research provides little aid in understanding how paternal incarceration affects educational outcomes for younger children at the onset of formal schooling. And while recent studies of younger children do emphasize impacts across individual dimensions of behavior (e.g., externalizing or internalizing) (Wildeman 2010; Craigie 2011; Wakefield and Wildeman 2011; Geller et al 2012) or cognitive measures (Geller et al 2012) that tap into aspects of school readiness, they leave largely unexplored any implications for education and how the effects translate into differences in early schooling trajectories for black and white boys and girls.…”

Early age at childhood parental incarceration and STI/HIV-related drug use and sex risk across the young adult lifecourse in the US: Heightened vulnerability of black and Hispanic youth

“…Surprisingly, despite numerous studies on the influence of parental incarceration on mental disorders (Craigie, 2011; Lee et al, 2013; Murray et al, 2012), there is comparatively limited research on the relationship between parental incarceration and substance use and sex risk. The current study supports evidence suggesting parental incarceration may influence substance use risk (Kopak and Smith-Ruiz, 2015; Roettger et al, 2011) and expands our understanding of the potential effects of parental incarceration by documenting the link to sexual risk behavior and STI.…”

“…Further, when a parent is incarcerated, a child is left to cope with feelings of embarrassment, worry, loneliness, confusion, and anger (Johnson and Easterling, 2012). Each of these aforementioned factors (e.g., diminished social support, increased economic strain, and social stigma) that are linked to parental incarceration may contribute to persistent stress, which, in turn, can negatively impact cognitive development (Craigie, 2011; Lee et al, 2013; Shonkoff et al, 2012) and mental health (Trivedi, 2006). Impaired cognition and increased risk of mental disorders are risk factors for drug use (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2015) and sexual risk behavior (Erbelding et al, 2001; Erbelding et al, 2004; Mazzaferro et al, 2006).…”