The Effects of Parent Education on Parental Locus of Control and Satisfaction of Incarcerated Fathers

Abstract

Incarcerated fathers have largely been ignored in parent education efforts. Yet, rehabilitation efforts aimed at improving family relationships have implications for the reduction of recidivism. This experimental study to assess positive benefits of parent education was conducted with 42 fathers incarcerated in a minimum security federal correctional institution. After pretesting of experimental and control group participants, 21 men completed an eightsession parenting class. All participants were posttested. It was shown through pairedt tests that the control group did not advance from pretest to posttest. The experimental group scored significantly higher at posttesting on a content/knowledge test and on certain subscales of the Parental Locus of Control Scale and the Cleminshaw-Guidubaldi Parent Satisfaction Scale. Research efforts in the future should include giving follow-up posttests, assessing behavioral change and recidivism, and examining the effects of parent education on children of inmates.

The parenting possible selves of young fathers in prison

“…Finally, and of most relevance in considering the resettlement of young fathers in the transition from custody (separation from child) to community (proximity to child), a longitudinal analysis of the continuity and change of parenting possible selves after release from prison would be particularly valuable. Previous research has tracked fathers' caregiving involvement (Wood & Repetti, 2004) and parental possible selves (Morfei, Hooker, Fiese, & Cordeiro, 2001) longitudinally, but since the parenting possible selves of young fathers in custody is a new research domain, longitudinal developments are yet to be explored.…”

“…Whilst incarcerated parents have previously received little research attention, in the last decade there has been an increase in research highlighting the experiences and needs of fathers in custody (Arditti, Smock, & Parkman, 2005;Boswell & Wedge, 2002;Clarke et al, 2005;Day, Acock, Bahr, & Arditti, 2005) as well as a specific focus on young fathers in prison (Dennison & Lyon, 2001;Nurse, 2002;Sherlock, 2004) and the children of incarcerated parents (Boswell, 2002;Murray, 2005;Salmon, 2005). Research with imprisoned fathers has typically explored the practical and emotional aspects of parenting in custody, with a particular emphasis on delivering parenting education in prisons (Boswell, Wedge, & Price, 2005;Caddle, 1991;Halsey, Johnson, Kaur, & Harland, 2004;Harrison, 1997;Jarvis, Graham, Hamilton, & Tyler, 2004;Magaletta & Herbst, 2001;Mardon, 1996;Meek, in press;Palm, 2001;Wilczak & Markstrom, 1999). In relation to broader theoretical perspectives on fathering, numerous contributions have been drawn from psychology and sociology (Lamb, 1975;Marsiglio, 1995), with a growing focus on the importance of and experiences of young fathers (Dearden, Hale, & Woolley, 1995;Fagan, Barnett, Bernd, & Whiteman, 2003;Hill, 1998;Pollock, Quinton, & Anderson, 2003;Rolph, 1999), particularly in relation to the involvement of fathers on child outcomes (Fagan & Iglesias, 1999;Flouri & Buchanan, 2003;Marsiglio & Cohan, 1997;Palkovitz, 2002;Rane & McBride, 2000).…”

L’incarcération du père : expérience et besoins des familles

“…L'étude de Wilczack et Markstrom (1999), notamment, conclut que les pères détenus ayant bénéficié d'une intervention familiale acquièrent des connaissances à l'égard de leur rôle parental et que le développement des enfants s'en trouve amélioré. Pour d'autres, ces programmes favorisent la réintégration sociale et réduisent les risques de récidive des détenus (Carlson et Cervera, 1991 ;Hairston, 1998).…”

Incarcerated African American fathers: Exploring changes in family relationships and the father identity

“…This process of "prisonization" (Brodsky, 1975) is often tied to a weakening of family ties and an increase in isolationist behavior, further decreasing the quality of relationships outside of prison walls (King, 1993). To combat isolation from family and inculcation into the prison culture, a variety of programs focusing on the father role have been brought into prisons (Lanier, 1987, Rudel and Hayes, 1990, Landreth and Lobaugh, 1998, Wilczak and Markstrom, 1999. These programs have yielded positive results in a variety of forms.…”

“…Parent education courses for male prisoners have shown some promise in reducing recidivism (Rudel and Hayes, 1990). Other benefits from these programs have come in the form of improved father-child relationships, increases in self-worth as a father, improvements in child behavior, and increases in visitation quality (Landreth andLobaugh, 1998, Wilczak andMarkstrom, 1999).…”