Self-Efficacy, Goal Orientation, and Romantic Relationship Skills among Incarcerated Men and their Non-Incarcerated Partners

• In Event: Lightning Talk: Corrections and Incarcerative Experiences

Abstract

The United States has the highest overall incarceration rate worldwide. Previous research has found that employing self-efficacy may be higher during incarceration, which may be a time when individuals reflect, leading to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals creating behavioral changes to manage stress and improve their life outcomes in preparation for community reentry. Utilizing a solution focused brief therapy conceptualization and data from the Multi-Site Family Study of Incarceration, Parenting, and Partnering (MFS-IP), we assess the relationship between self-efficacy, goal orientation, and romantic relationship skills with incarcerated men and their non-incarcerated partners. The results indicate that both self-efficacy and goal orientation skills cultivated while incarcerated are strongly associated with overall relationships skills between the incarcerated male partner and his non-incarcerated partner. While these results substantiate the importance of romantic relationship building during time in prison, they speak to greater capabilities of incarcerated men forming other, non-romantic relationships with their children and family members upon release. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

Authors

• Eman Tadros, Governors State University

• Chantal Fahmy, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Tasseli McKay, Duke University

• Sara Jordan, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Antonia Guajardo, Governors State University