- Browse/Search the Program
Search
Program Calendar
Browse By Day
Browse By Room
- Information Menu
Search Tips
Virtual Exhibit Hall
- Navigation and Settings Menu
Personal Schedule
Sign In
Intergenerational malaise for children of incarcerated parents: Outcomes for offspring of imprisoned parents in The Netherlands
Thu, September 4, 2:30 to 3:45pm, Deree | Arts Center Building, Arts Center Deree 003Abstract
On a yearly base, a huge number of children are confronted with parental incarceration worldwide. Europe has a substantial incidence of over 2,1 million children facing parental incarceration every day. In the Netherlands, on which the current study focuses, almost 18,000 children endure parental incarceration every year. According to the bonding theory, family stress theory, and social learning theories, both positive and negative effects can be expected for the children of incarcerated parents. Previous research has also shown that the consequences for these children extend far beyond just an increased risk of criminal behavior. To gain a better understanding of the relationship and possible causal connections between parental incarceration and its various effects on children, this study conducts quasi-experimental research using CBS microdata. The sample includes the entire Dutch birth cohorts from 2001-2010, allowing for an exploration of the long-term effects into adulthood. The study employs a "children of discordant sibling" design to control for unmeasured confounders shared by siblings. By comparing children of a parent who has been incarcerated with children of a non-criminal or incarcerated sibling, the research controls for shared characteristics more effectively than when comparing random children. This approach provides a better insight into the causality between parental incarceration and its effects on children in the Dutch context. Furthermore, the results are broken down by both the gender of the parent and the child. The findings will highlight the relationship between parental incarceration and its impacts on children's academic performance, physical and mental health, and involvement in criminal activity, which will be discussed in the presentation in the context of the theories mentioned earlier.