Child well-being when fathers return from prison

Abstract

A majority of men incarcerated are fathers, but little research has been conducted on the children’s well-being after their father’s release from incarceration. We measured changes in internalizing and externalizing problems (based on father’s and female partner’s report) across a 34-month period among children ages 6–17 (n = 431). Results suggested increased internalizing and externalizing problems in older children, increased internalizing problems when fathers had problem alcohol use, and a moderating role of father–child coresidence and father–child relationship. Programs to promote paternal well-being and father–child relationships before and after reentry may benefit children of incarcerated fathers.