Partner incarceration, maternal substance use, and the mediating role of social support: A longitudinal analysis using the future of families and child wellbeing study
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Partner incarceration significantly increases maternal substance use. Financial and emergency social support can temporarily mitigate this risk, highlighting the need for targeted interventions for families affected by mass incarceration.
Area Of Science
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Criminology
Background
- The United States has the world's highest incarceration rate.
- Partner incarceration is a significant stressor for families.
- Understanding its impact on maternal health is crucial.
Purpose Of The Study
- To examine the link between partner incarceration and maternal substance use.
- To investigate the mediating role of social support in this relationship.
Main Methods
- Longitudinal cohort study (Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study).
- Analysis of maternal substance use and social support over 15 years.
- Generalized estimating equations (GEE) used for statistical modeling.
Main Results
- Nearly half of participants experienced partner incarceration.
- Partner incarceration was associated with a 110% increase in maternal substance use.
- Financial and emergency social support partially mediated the association in the short term.
Conclusions
- Partner incarceration adversely affects maternal substance use.
- Social support plays a short-term mediating role.
- Findings underscore the need for support systems for families impacted by incarceration.
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