Location
Sydnor Performance Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Start Date
4-17-2024 9:15 AM
End Date
4-17-2024 9:30 AM
College
College of Medical Sciences
Department
Public Health
Keywords
mental health, bonding, attachment, women incarcerated
Abstract
This study examined the role of parenting classes on incarcerated women using prison inmate data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2016. Mother-child bonding and attachment are scarcely dissected in the criminology field compared to other areas, and parental incarceration only intensifies criminality factors for youth during their life-course. Using a series of preliminary linear and logistic regression analyses, this study examined if voluntary participation in parenting classes while incarcerated increased the likelihood that incarcerated mothers would contact their children and report fewer mental health issues while behind bars. Findings showed that incarcerated mothers who voluntarily enrolled in parenting classes were significantly more likely to contact their children while behind bars compared to mothers who did not enroll in classes. Adversely, incarcerated mothers who took parenting classes were also significantly more likely to report a greater number of mental health issues while incarcerated compared to mothers who did not enroll in classes. Although these findings reveal that participating in parenting classes while incarcerated may increase communication, and thus attachment, to one’s children, it may also simultaneously increase mental health issues while behind bars, likely due to the separation awareness that these classes inadvertently cause.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Joseph Hoft
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Mental Health Issues, Child Attachment, and the Role of Parenting Classes for Incarcerated Mothers
Sydnor Performance Hall
This study examined the role of parenting classes on incarcerated women using prison inmate data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2016. Mother-child bonding and attachment are scarcely dissected in the criminology field compared to other areas, and parental incarceration only intensifies criminality factors for youth during their life-course. Using a series of preliminary linear and logistic regression analyses, this study examined if voluntary participation in parenting classes while incarcerated increased the likelihood that incarcerated mothers would contact their children and report fewer mental health issues while behind bars. Findings showed that incarcerated mothers who voluntarily enrolled in parenting classes were significantly more likely to contact their children while behind bars compared to mothers who did not enroll in classes. Adversely, incarcerated mothers who took parenting classes were also significantly more likely to report a greater number of mental health issues while incarcerated compared to mothers who did not enroll in classes. Although these findings reveal that participating in parenting classes while incarcerated may increase communication, and thus attachment, to one’s children, it may also simultaneously increase mental health issues while behind bars, likely due to the separation awareness that these classes inadvertently cause.