Redefining Relationships: Explaining the Countervailing Consequences of Paternal Incarceration for Parenting
Kristin Turney1, Christopher Wildeman2
1University of California, Irvine.
American Sociological Review
|April 10, 2026
Summary
Paternal incarceration negatively impacts residential fathers' parenting, primarily due to strained co-parenting relationships. However, it may increase mothers' likelihood of finding new partners, adding complexity to family structures.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Rising incarceration rates prompt research into family life impacts.
- Existing literature often highlights negative consequences of imprisonment on families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the complex and countervailing effects of paternal incarceration on family relationships.
- To investigate impacts on fathers' parenting, mothers' parenting, and parent-child relationships.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study.
- Employed a rigorous research design to analyze incarceration's effects.
Main Results:
- Recent paternal incarceration significantly reduces parenting by residential fathers, linked to altered co-parental relationships.
- Effects on mothers' parenting are inconsistent and weak.
- Paternal incarceration increases mothers' likelihood of repartnering, potentially offsetting father's absence but increasing family complexity.
Conclusions:
- The collateral consequences of paternal incarceration on family life are multifaceted and present both challenges and potential adaptations.
- Findings underscore the nuanced impact of incarceration beyond simple negative outcomes.
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