The differential effects of prison contact on parent–child relationship quality and child behavioral changes

ABSTRACT

The children of prisoners can suffer from behavioral issues, poor school performance, and heightened risk of crime and delinquency. Separation is part of what makes incarceration a punishment, but what can be done to ensure that it has the least harmful effect on children? Using data from the Arizona Prison Visitation Project, the current study seeks to examine the influence of different types of prison contact (inperson, mail, and phone) and frequency of contact on parent-child relationship quality and how those changes in relationship quality may influence child behavior. Examining results from the parent (n = 127) and child (n = 293) level, the study finds that in-person visitation can increase relationship quality, with mail and frequent phone contact also beneficial.

KEYWORDS:

• Prisons
• punishment
• relationships

Notes

1. Problems in school is likely a more objective report of child behavioral problems because it involves a letter or communication home, rather than the other parent or caregiver communicating this information directly or indirectly prior to prison. Further, unlike the other three variables, problems in school encompasses internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Liu, 2004). Including both types of behavior is an important indication of overall behavioral problems, rather than indicators of victimization (victim of violence/abuse) or behaviors that may be attributed to the incarcerated parent (seen/heard violence in the home, exposure to drug/alcohol abuse in the home).

2. Although the measure of relationship quality can be best described as a measure of closeness, previous research suggests that closeness is an important part of parent–child relationship quality (Paulson, Hill, & Holmbeck, 1991). Considering other factors which are associated with parent–child relationship quality, such as parenting style or discipline, closeness is a neutral construct that is easy for a parent to answer. It does not need either an outside individual to perceive the interactions between the parent and child or for the parent to reflect upon possibly negative aspects of their parenting style. As such, given the information available for the current analysis, it was an appropriate measure of parent-perceived parent–child relationship quality.