Adversity Across the Life Course ofIncarcerated Parents: Gender Differences

Abstract

More than half of the 1.6 million adults in U.S. prisons are parents.Despite growing knowledge regarding the life course adversities ofcorrections-involved populations, less is known regarding incarcer-ated parents per se and the implications of cumulative adversitiesboth on their needs and those of their children. Using agender-balanced (41%minority) sample of incarcerated parents(N¼357) from a randomized controlled trial of an in-prisonparent training program, this study examines differences betweenincarcerated mothers and fathers in their exposures to adversitiesacross the life course. Mothers and fathers shared similar patternsof adversity exposure in their families of origin but differed in theirexperiences of juvenile justice and child welfare systems involve-ment, as well as in their adult experiences of victimization andrelated adult social and mental health outcomes. Implications forgender-responsive parent support and prevention programs for theirchildren of incarcerated mothers and fathers are discussed.