Abstract: Reentry and Health: Exploring Formerly Incarcerated Young Adults' Perspectives (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

Schedule:

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Marquis BR 9, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)

* noted as presenting author

Nofar Mazursky, PhD, Professor, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Laura S. Abrams, PhD, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Julia Lesnick, Graduate Student, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Reese Howard, MPP, Reearch Associate, University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Elizabeth Barnert, MD, Pediatrician, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, CA

Background: The transition from incarceration back into the community is a critical juncture for young people, as the environmental and economic conditions they return to after release can promote or hinder their health and well-being. This study explores how young adults perceive their health during reentry and what factors they identify as either promoting or harming their well-being.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 young adults, ages 18-25 (average age 22.5 years), recruited from a reentry organization in Los Angeles and Sacramento Counties between June and September 2024. The sample included 18 young men and 3 young women who were formerly incarcerated. Participants self-identified as Black (n = 5), Latino (n = 9), white (n = 5), and Other (n =2). Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a guide that explored participants’ perceptions of health, their environment, and the personal challenges they faced related to health. Interviews were held via Zoom or telephone, lasted between 45 and 75 minutes, and were transcribed using Otter.AI. The data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach, with MAXQDA24 software used to support the coding and analysis process.

Results: The authors identified three major findings. First, participants’ definitions of health during reentry included references to life expectancy as a key indicator, as well as the importance of physical activity and dietary behaviors in maintaining well-being. Additionally, financial status emerged as a key indicator of health, with economic stress forming a central part of the reentry process, which is uniquely challenging for this population and should be an additional aim to address for professionals. Second, participants described various experiences with neighborhoods that influenced their health after incarceration. While some described their neighborhoods as promoting health through access to green spaces or community support, others viewed where they lived as detrimental to their health due to poor environmental conditions, the high prevalence of unhoused community members, and safety concerns. Third, participants highlighted a range of health challenges, including neglecting their health, difficulties with insurance, and ongoing socioeconomic stressors that complicate efforts to maintain their well-being during reentry.

Conclusion and Implications: The findings reveal a spectrum of perceptions regarding participants’ health. Participants’ own actions and sense of control, such as engaging in physical activity and making healthy dietary choices, reflected perceptions of internal aspects influencing their health. Simultaneously, external factors, particularly environmental conditions like the feeling of safety, also shape their health. Professionals working with formerly incarcerated young adults address both internal and external dimensions to support reentry success and overall health during the critical and challenging period of community reintegration after incarceration.