Parental incarceration: Influences on children’s depressive symptoms and binge drinking during the transition to adulthood

Citation

Thomas, Kirby Ann; Holway, Giuseppina Valle; & Taylor, Miles G. (2016). Parental incarceration: Influences on children’s depressive symptoms and binge drinking during the transition to adulthood. Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America. Washington, DC.

Abstract

Recent increases in incarceration have motivated researchers to examine its effects on children. While past research finds parental incarceration adversely affects children’s mental health and health-related behaviors, it is largely unknown whether these effects persist into young adulthood. We use the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and latent growth curve analysis to examine the effect of paternal incarceration on children’s depressive symptom and binge drinking trajectories during the transition to adulthood (N=8,379). We find that paternal incarceration impacts mental health trajectories for both women and men as they transition to adulthood. Results also indicate that the role of life course mechanisms and parental attachment in the connection of paternal incarceration to mental health outcomes varies somewhat by gender.

Reference Type

Conference proceeding

Book Title

Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America

Author(s)

Thomas, Kirby Ann
Holway, Giuseppina Valle
Taylor, Miles G.

Year Published

2016

City of Publication

Washington, DC

Reference ID

8024