Is Parental Incarceration a Predictor of Childhood Exposure to and Involvement in Intimate Partner Violence?

• In Event: Families, Peers, and Offending

Abstract

Youth who have a parent incarcerated are more likely to have negative life outcomes, such as substance abuse, mental disorders, and the internalization and externalization of behaviors However, little research has explored the intersection of youth who have an incarcerated parent and intimate partner violence. Youth with an incarcerated parent may be at heightened risk for exposure to violence since these and other risk factors, such as poverty, witnessing violence, and victimization are related to incarceration. Additionally, self-control literature shows youth with incarcerated parents to be at increased risk of violence exposure and victimization. Due to this combination of risk factors, this study seeks to answer two questions about the relationship between parental incarceration and intimate partner violence. First, are youth who experience parental incarceration more likely to be victims of intimate partner violence? Second, are youth who experience parental incarceration more likely to be perpetrators of intimate partner violence? This study will address these research questions using a sample of Minnesotan youth who responded to the Minnesota Student Survey. This study concludes with a discussion of findings, limitations, and recommendations for future research.

Author

• Natasha Tanise Moses, University of Cincinnati