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Abstract
There are an estimated 200,000 children of prisoners in the UK. However, research into their needs is limited, especially studies including their voice. An in-depth, small-scale explorative approach was taken, focusing on these children’s resilience and emotional and psychological needs. The aim of the research was to investigate how children with a parent in prison experience and understand their lives in order to support professional practice. The research involved five young people, aged 8–13, who were each interviewed separately on two occasions, using semi-structured interviews and personal construct psychology resources. Transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The young people showed many signs of resilience and being able to use support from family, friends, school and the community, along with their own creative coping strategies. All had additional stressors to cope with, such as supporting their mother’s well-being, and were frustrated by a lack of control over their own lives. Difficulties in trusting others and feeling trusted ran throughout these other themes. Implications for educational psychology practice are discussed.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank all the young people who took part in this study, and their mothers and carers. The author would also like to thank all the professionals who helped to search for, and recruit participants, and for realising the importance of research in this area.
Sincere thanks also to Dr John Franey, the author’s academic supervisor, for his advice, reassurance and having the confidence in the author to attempt this “challenging research”.