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Behavioral and emotional adjustment of children of incarcerated parents based upon exposure to risk and protective factors

Fri, April 13, 10:15 to 11:45am, Hilton, Floor: Third Floor, Minneapolis Grand Ballroom-Salon B

Abstract/Description

Children of incarcerated parents (COIP) are frequently exposed to a host of risk factors including individual, social, and environmental difficulties that put them at risk for poor developmental outcomes (Travis & Waul, 2003). The potential mitigating role of protective factors for COIP, however, has been less examined. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the role of risk and protective factors in predicting functioning in COIP.

Caregivers and youth applying for a youth mentoring program completed questionnaires related to exposure to youth’s risk and protective factors and behavioral, emotional, and academic functioning. The sample consisted of 1106 youth who had an incarcerated caregiver (mean age = 11.93 years old, sd = 2.14 years). Eleven risk factors related to family living environment, characteristics of parental incarceration, and exposure to other stressors were identified and summed. Sixteen protective factors related to family living environment, child personality, and positive youth development were identified and summed. Behavioral, academic, emotional, and social adjustment outcomes were calculated and their associations with risk and protective factors were assessed through a series of multiple regressions. When risk was significantly associated with poor youth outcomes, total number of protective factors when then added to the model to determine whether protective factors mitigate the influence of risk. Dichotomous outcomes were estimated using logistic regression and continuous outcomes were estimated using linear regression.

Results related to behavioral adjustment suggest that total risk is significantly positively associated with aggression (OR=1.22), delinquency (OR=1.13), and intent to use drugs and alcohol (OR=1.18). When total protective factors were added to the models, they were significantly negatively associated with all outcomes (aggression, OR=0.86; delinquency, OR=0.91; intent to use drugs and alcohol, OR=0.87). In the cases of delinquency and intent to use drugs and alcohol, adding total protective factors to the model rendered the parameter estimate for total risk non-significant.

Results related to school adjustment indicate that total risk is significantly positively related to attendance problems (b = 0.04) and school misbehavior (OR=1.16). When total protective factors were added to the models, they were significantly negatively associated with both attendance problems (b= -0.04) and school misbehavior (OR=0.93). Adding total protective factors to the model for attendance problems rendered the total risk estimate non-significant.

Outcomes related to emotional adjustment (depression and loneliness) are not associated with total risk but results for social adjustment outcomes indicate that total risk is positively associated with victimization (b = 0.10) and having antisocial peers (OR=1.29). When total protective factors are added to the models, they are negatively associated with victimization (b = -0.09), but unrelated to having antisocial peers.

Taken together, by assessing and understanding how risk, protective factors, and outcomes are related, we can develop more effective interventions to target the COIP population and, when possible, make efforts to reduce risk and enhance protective factors.

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