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Ambiguous Loss and Posttraumatic Stress in School-Age Children of Prisoners

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Abstract

We describe a sample of school-age children of incarcerated parents enrolled in a federally funded mentoring program. A mixed methods approach was applied to discern key themes related to caregiver incarceration. Results demonstrated a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress as well as high rates of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Descriptions of children’s stress and coping behaviors in response to the ambiguous loss associated with parental incarceration are presented. Further, implications for similar mentoring programs are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Child Ecology, Michigan State University, 7 Human Ecology, East Lansing, 48824, USA

    Erika London Bocknek

  2. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, 348 Mansfield Road, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Jessica Sanderson & Preston A. Britner IV

Authors
  1. Erika London Bocknek
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  2. Jessica Sanderson
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  3. Preston A. Britner IV
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Correspondence to Erika London Bocknek.

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Bocknek, E.L., Sanderson, J. & Britner, P.A. Ambiguous Loss and Posttraumatic Stress in School-Age Children of Prisoners. J Child Fam Stud 18, 323–333 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-008-9233-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-008-9233-y

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