99 Problems, is Depression One? Racial Variations in the Effect of Arrest History on Depressive Symptoms

• In Event: Effects of Criminal Justice Contact on Individuals' Health and Family Wellbeing

Abstract

Objectives: The funneling of persons into the prison system has been overwhelmingly lopsided, as Blacks and Hispanics, especially males, are incarcerated at much higher rates than white Americans. Explorations into the consequences of mass incarceration are pertinent. Extant literature has observed that incarceration has implications for well-being. However, differences in the health consequences of incarceration are under-explored. This project intends to address this gap by exploring race and gender differences in the manifestation of depressive symptoms caused by early involvement in the justice system

Design: In this study, I rely on longitudinal data from a sample of young adults in the NLSY97 (N=4,743). I utilize data from the initial wave of data collection (1997) through the thirteenth wave of data collection (2010). To explore race-gender variations in the relationship between arrest history and depressive symptoms among this sample, I estimated a multi-sample structural equation model (SEM).

Results: Relying on stress process theory, I find that incarceration serves as a primary stressor, directly and detrimentally influencing depressive symptoms while simultaneously indirectly influencing depressive symptoms through secondary stressors. Additionally, I find evidence suggesting stress proliferates in divergent pathways across race and gender groups leading to differential mental health status.

Author

• Stacey Houston, George Mason University