Do Siblings Moderate the Effects of Maternal Incarceration on Juvenile Outcomes?

• In Event: Intergenerational Effects of Parental Deviance and Incarceration

Abstract

Parental incarceration has been found to be negatively associated with early childhood externalizing behaviors such as physical aggression, acting out, and behavior problems, internalizing behaviors such as depressive symptoms, and engagement in delinquent activities. Data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study is examined to help understand how the presence of siblings moderate the outcomes of nine year old children whose mother has experienced incarceration. This study measures child outcomes through four indicators including caregiver-reported internalizing problem behaviors, caregiver-reported externalizing problem behaviors, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III) scores, and child-reported early juvenile delinquency. This study builds upon the understanding of heterogenetic effects of maternal incarceration on young children and the factors that help to minimize these effects. Based upon prior research, it is expected that sibling relationships moderate the effects of maternal incarceration on individual child characteristics such as cognitive, social, personality, and delinquent outcomes.

Author

• Tracey Woodard, Florida State University