A Conceptual Framework for Child Well-Being in the Context of Maternal Incarceration: A Meta-Narrative Synthesis

• In Event: Better addressing the needs of incarcerated mothers and their children: Transforming Corrections to Transform Lives

Abstract

Children with incarcerated mothers experience complex challenges across multiple, interrelated domains of well-being. While existing research examines specific outcomes—such as education, mental health, and attachment—no one conceptual framework explains children’s overall well-being. This paper addresses this gap by developing a well-being framework for children of incarcerated mothers in Australia, drawing on the well-being framework developed by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY). Through meta-narrative synthesis and qualitative analysis, we examine a total of 97 articles, theses, and reports to assess the relevance of the ARACY framework for understanding the well-being of children experiencing maternal incarceration, across six domains: healthy, learning, loved and safe, material basics, contributing and participating, and culture and identity.

Our analysis demonstrates that these domains provide a useful structure for understanding child well-being in the context of maternal incarceration. However, understanding the well-being of children with incarcerated mothers also requires indicators that reflect culturally specific experiences, access to health resources, conditions that support mother-child attachment, the factors that impact on children’s ability to participate meaningfully in their schools and communities, and pre-existing familial disadvantage. This research provides the first conceptual framework for understanding the well-being of children experiencing maternal incarceration. In doing so, we demonstrate how existing well-being frameworks can be adapted to consider the unique experiences of children of incarcerated mothers and highlight key areas that could be targeted to improve children’s well-being. Future research should focus on operationalising the specific indicators that measure well-being within each domain and test the validity of these indicators across different contexts.

Authors

• Corrie Williams, Griffith University

• Krystal Lockwood, Griffith University

• Diksha Sapkota, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia

• Robyn Garland, Griffith University

• Tara Renae McGee, Griffith University

• Brian Jenkins, Griffith University

• Carleen Thompson, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia

• Janet Ransley, Griffith University

• Susan Dennison, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia