Unmet Mental Health Needs of Jailed Parents with Young Children

Mental health symptoms in jailed parents with young children were examined, including relations to gender, race, trauma, and supports.

Most U.S. incarceration occurs in jails, and it is a significant stressor for families because most incarcerated individuals are parents. Although jails are notorious for housing people with mental health problems, few studies focus on the mental health of jailed parents or supports that might mitigate such problems.

165 jailed parents with young children (2-6 years) completed an interview and self-administered questionnaires. Relative Risk analyses determined symptom severity relative to normative samples, and multivariate analysis of variance tested differences in white and nonwhite mothers and fathers. Ordinary least squares regression analyses examined predictors of mental health symptoms.

Depression and Thought Problems (hallucinations, strange thoughts/behaviors, self-harm) were the most common problems. Jailed mothers reported more thought problems, depression, anxiety, and drug abuse than fathers, and also more childhood sexual abuse and neglect. Incarcerated parents experiencing childhood physical abuse were more likely to be depressed, anxious, and use drugs than those who not experiencing physical abuse, and parents who reported more current family support exhibited less depression and anxiety.

Jailed parents experienced 3 to 5 times the odds of symptoms compared to normative samples, with a high rate of serious symptoms and comorbidities relative to the low proportion of jailed parents who received any mental health treatment.

Mental health interventions for jailed parents are needed, especially gender responsive, trauma informed services that foster positive family connections.