Exploring Factors Affecting Wellbeing of Children with Incarcerated Fathers from New Delhi Prison

• In Event: Mental Health and Incarceration

Abstract

The children of parents who are detained or imprisoned are frequently overlooked and often depicted as ‘forgotten or invisible victims’. The study of children with incarcerated parent/s is still in its infancy in India. The imprisonment of a parent can deeply impact a child and with that in mind, the aim of the present research was to explore factors that affect the wellbeing of children of prisoners. For this research, children of convicted prisoners (N= 102) currently serving a sentence in Tihar Central Jail, New Delhi were asked to fill out the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). SDQ is a brief behavioural screening questionnaire for 3-16 year olds. It exists in several versions and languages to meet the needs of researchers, clinicians and educationalists. The sample only included children with fathers inside the jail. The questionnaire was filled out by the children as well as their respective guardian (mostly mothers) and gave an insight into the emotional, financial and educational hardships since the imprisonment of the father. Limitations and future recommendations are also discussed.
Keywords: Children of prisoners, wellbeing, family, victims, families of offenders, India

Author

• Madhumita Pandey, Anglia Ruskin University