Development of prison-based parent-child joint intervention for incarcerated fathers: protocol for mixed-methods...

Area of Science:

• Family Studies
• Developmental Psychology
• Correctional Rehabilitation

Background:

• Paternal incarceration significantly disrupts family cohesion and children's psychosocial well-being.
• Culturally specific, prison-based parenting interventions are scarce, especially in Asian contexts.
• The 'Be My Hero' program addresses this gap using the Double ABCX model of family resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the 'Be My Hero' parenting intervention for incarcerated fathers.
• To assess the intervention's impact on paternal competence, father-child attachment, communication, and resilience.
• To explore the feasibility of the program and its influence on paternal identity.

Main Methods:

• Concurrent mixed-methods design utilizing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Recruitment of 20-30 incarcerated fathers with children aged 3-11 from three correctional facilities.
• Pre- and post-intervention assessments of paternal factors, alongside semistructured interviews and session logs.

Main Results:

• The intervention is expected to mitigate disruptions in paternal identity.
• The program aims to strengthen father-child bonds and communication.
• Anticipated outcomes include reduced intergenerational disadvantage and improved family well-being.

Conclusions:

• The 'Be My Hero' program offers a promising, culturally attuned approach to supporting incarcerated fathers.
• Findings will inform correctional rehabilitation practices, promoting family-focused and resilience-based interventions.
• Successful implementation may lead to healthier re-entry outcomes and reduced intergenerational disadvantage.