Poster #66 - Attachment in the Context of Parental Incarceration

• In Event: Poster Session 10

Abstract

Background and Significance
The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world (Widra & Herring, 2021) and approximately half of incarcerated individuals are parents (Maruschak et al., 2021). Parental incarceration (PI) places children at risk for social-emotional problems (Murray et al., 2012), perhaps reflecting disruptions in caregiving that interfere with the formation of secure attachment relationships (Shlafer et al., 2019). Attachment insecurity is known to elevate risk for behavior problems across childhood (Van IJzendoorn, 2010a; Groh et al., 2012). Notably, children can share an insecure attachment with one caregiver but a secure attachment with another (Gransqvist et. al., 2017). A secure attachment relationship with at least one primary caregiver may serve as a protective factor enhancing resilience among infants with incarcerated parents. Unfortunately, little is known about attachment in the context of PI (Murray et al., 2012), although the quality of caregiving environment provided by relatives has been linked to lower behavior problems (Mackintosh et al., 2006). The current study addresses gaps in the literature by assessing attachment, measured using the gold standard Strange Situation procedure, among infants with and without histories of PI.
Method
The Maternal Lifestyle Study (MLS) was launched in 1993, as rates of incarceration were increasing dramatically in the U.S.. The MLS recruited 1,388 mother-newborn dyad participants from four American urban areas. MLS data is available to analyze, with permission, from ICSPR and includes relevant data on demographics, PI, and attachment.
Descriptive Data
Information about PI was collected by interview at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months. At one month, 57 parents (4.1%; 11 mothers, 46 fathers) were currently incarcerated, with cumulative rates of PI increasing across the first year. The Strange Situation was completed at 18 months. In the overall MLS sample, 11.4% of children were classified as Insecure/Ambivalent, 63.4% as Secure, 8.5% as Avoidant, and 12.2% as Disorganized.
Planned Analyses
Using Case-Control Matching, we will match participants with exposure to PI during their first 12 months to a group of participants with no such exposure, comparing rates of attachment security, insecurity and disorganization across the two groups. Matching variables include data collection site, maternal education, maternal age, family income, birthweight and prenatal drug exposure. Within the PI group, we will also evaluate differences in attachment security based on the caregiver completing the Strange Situation.
Pre-registered Hypotheses
We expect to find lower rates of attachment security and higher rates of attachment insecurity and disorganization among infants exposed to PI compared to demographically-matched controls. Within the PI group, we anticipate that infants completing the Strange Situation with a caregiver who was consistently present during the first year of life will be more likely to show secure attachment than infants completing the Strange Situation with a caregiver who was absent due to incarceration. Results will provide novel information about rates and correlates of attachment security in the context of PI, setting the stage for future research evaluating attachment security as a protective factor for children with incarcerated parents.

Authors

• Madison Schulte, William and Mary
  Presenting Author

• Madelyn Labella, William and Mary

• Danielle Horvath Dallaire, Other (The College of William & Mary)