Only the Lonely?: Contextual Impacts of Motherhood on Periods of Incarceration Among Female Prisoners in The Netherlands

• In Event: Developmental and Life Course Consequences of Parental Incarceration

Abstract

To date, little quantitative research has given attention to identifying the precise impact of motherhood in pathways to female imprisonment. The current study investigates the relationship between motherhood and periods of incarceration among 397 female prisoners in The Netherlands. Self-reported retrospective data from life history calendars was used to explore different circumstances under which motherhood functions either as a protective- or risk factor for periods of incarceration across the life course. Results from multilevel logistic random-effects models showed that (a) being a mother permanently inhibited incarceration risks in any given year, (b) that each birth had a temporary protective influence on the likelihood of incarceration, but that (c) the risk for incarceration was not significantly affected by each additional child. However, the prosocial potential of motherhood appears moderated by relationship context: motherhood only decreased incarceration risks when women raised their children while being in a serious relationship, regardless of partner deviancy and relationship stability. Single motherhood, on the other hand, was associated with an increased likelihood of incarceration. Current findings underscore the importance of interpreting motherhood effects within the broader socioeconomic context of highly disadvantaged women: implications for future research and intervention strategies are discussed.

Authors

• Sylvia Alberts, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement

• Katharina Joosen, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement

• Anne-Marie Slotboom, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

• Candace Kruttschnitt, University of Toronto

• Catrien Bijleveld, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement