A Family's Life on the Outside: Effects of Parental Incarceration on the Stress and Mental Health of the Present Caregiver

Background and Purpose: Mass incarceration has spread rampantly through the United States since the 1970s, having significant, negative consequences for those incarcerated and their families. Further, these consequences have inequitable effects, disproportionately impacting Black families. Most literature regarding parental incarceration focuses on the incarcerated parent and their child(ren). Our study examines the relationship between parental incarceration and parental stress of the present caregiver, with specific focus of the effects on Black families.

Methods: We used data from the cross-sectional 2020 National Survey of Children’s Health. The primary outcomes of parental stress and mental health, were summarized and compared by child exposure to parental incarceration. Differences in proportions were tested with chi-square statistics. The associations between parental incarceration and parental stress and mental health were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for key sociodemographic and health characteristics, including race.

Results: Our findings indicate a strong relationship between children who have experienced parental incarceration and parental stress and mental health. Families were two times more likely to report they had fair to poor mental health (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.91- 2.50) than families who had not experienced parental incarceration, and they were also more than two times as likely to report they had experienced parental stress (OR 2.33, 95% CI: 1.98-2.75) than families who had not experienced parental incarceration. Among Black families, parental incarceration was a strong predictor of parental stress, but not poor parental mental health, compared to White families.

Discussion: Our study highlights important unmet needs among families who have experienced parental incarceration. While Black race was strongly associated with parental stress, compared to White race, Black respondents were less likely to report fair to poor mental health. Social work practitioners play an important role in providing culturally sensitive education and support. Self-awareness and knowledge of cultural differences and the effects of stigma on how parental stress and mental health are viewed should be prioritized.