Vulnerability and Desire: The Duality of Building Intimate Relationships Following Release from a Life Sentence

• In Event: Life Course Outcomes for Juveniles and Emerging Adults Sentenced to Life: Understanding the Effects of Prison

Abstract

Objectives: Developmental milestones related to relationships and family formation are hallmarks of adult life. The foundational tasks of these adult milestones are forged in adolescence—a crucial period for relationship and sexual exploration, development, and modeling. However, the developmental tasks for individuals sentenced to life imprisonment during adolescence (JLWOP) are additionally shaped by maturing in a prison context focused on survival and inconsistent contact with early attachments. This qualitative study explored how the disruption of long-term incarceration impacts the development of intimate adult relationships. Methods: 21 adults released from JLWOP sentences after serving 23-44 years (M=32) in a single state were interviewed for this study. Interviews (M=133 minutes) explored relationship experiences across participants’ lifespan, including during incarceration, after release, and future expectations. Transcripts were analyzed using holistic, pattern, and in vivo coding. Results: Participants reported strong desires for trusting intimate relationships but faced significant challenges in managing their vulnerability. Participants also felt they lacked skills for building adaptable relationships that could accommodate them as they adjusted to life outside prison. Implications: Findings indicate a need for interventions focused on interpersonal effectiveness and the development of attachment security for individuals returning from life and long sentences, particularly sentences beginning in adolescence.

Author

• Daphne M. Brydon, University of Cincinnati