The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-Life
Introduction: The U.S. has the highest number of incarcerated persons per capita, and individuals who experience parental incarceration (PI) in childhood are at increased risk for internalizing and externalizing behavioral health conditions across the life course. This study explored the relationshi...
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SAGE Publishing
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251362978 |
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| author | Victoria Ward Hannah Grace Rew Berkeley Franz |
| author_facet | Victoria Ward Hannah Grace Rew Berkeley Franz |
| author_sort | Victoria Ward |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The U.S. has the highest number of incarcerated persons per capita, and individuals who experience parental incarceration (PI) in childhood are at increased risk for internalizing and externalizing behavioral health conditions across the life course. This study explored the relationship between PI and mental health outcomes, including diagnoses of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and depression by mid-life. Methods: Using data from Waves IV and V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescence to Adult Health, we assessed whether individuals who experienced PI before age 18 had higher rates of ADHD, PTSD, and depression diagnoses in mid-life and if the gender of the parent and child moderated these outcomes. We used a cross-sectional design which included chi-square tests of independence and logistic regression. Results: Participants who experienced PI had approximately twice the odds of depression (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.30-2.09) or PTSD (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.19-2.42). Parental incarceration was not a significant predictor of ADHD. There was no evidence for a differential impact of PI based on the parent or participant’s gender. Conclusion: PI is associated with negative effects, including higher rates of depression and PTSD, through mid-life. This same relationship did not exist for ADHD and gender did not moderate the relationship between PI and mental health outcomes. These findings extend knowledge on the possible long-term harms of criminal justice involvement, and are especially important for communities disproportionately affected by incarceration in the United States. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c00fc7d2f0f40079499d8a21193542b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2150-1327 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c00fc7d2f0f40079499d8a21193542b2025-08-26T09:03:38ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Primary Care & Community Health2150-13272025-08-011610.1177/21501319251362978The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-LifeVictoria Ward0Hannah Grace Rew1Berkeley Franz2University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USAOhio University, Department of Psychology, Athens, OH, USAOhio University, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Institute to ADVANCE Health Equity, Athens, OH, USAIntroduction: The U.S. has the highest number of incarcerated persons per capita, and individuals who experience parental incarceration (PI) in childhood are at increased risk for internalizing and externalizing behavioral health conditions across the life course. This study explored the relationship between PI and mental health outcomes, including diagnoses of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and depression by mid-life. Methods: Using data from Waves IV and V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescence to Adult Health, we assessed whether individuals who experienced PI before age 18 had higher rates of ADHD, PTSD, and depression diagnoses in mid-life and if the gender of the parent and child moderated these outcomes. We used a cross-sectional design which included chi-square tests of independence and logistic regression. Results: Participants who experienced PI had approximately twice the odds of depression (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.30-2.09) or PTSD (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.19-2.42). Parental incarceration was not a significant predictor of ADHD. There was no evidence for a differential impact of PI based on the parent or participant’s gender. Conclusion: PI is associated with negative effects, including higher rates of depression and PTSD, through mid-life. This same relationship did not exist for ADHD and gender did not moderate the relationship between PI and mental health outcomes. These findings extend knowledge on the possible long-term harms of criminal justice involvement, and are especially important for communities disproportionately affected by incarceration in the United States.https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251362978 |
| spellingShingle | Victoria Ward Hannah Grace Rew Berkeley Franz The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-Life Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| title | The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-Life |
| title_full | The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-Life |
| title_fullStr | The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-Life |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-Life |
| title_short | The Association Between Parental Incarceration During Childhood and Mental Health Diagnoses in Mid-Life |
| title_sort | association between parental incarceration during childhood and mental health diagnoses in mid life |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319251362978 |
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