The Longitudinal Associations Between Paternal Incarceration and Family Well-Being: Implications for Ethnic/Racial Disparities in Health - 21/02/22
, Adam Fine, PhD b, Ming-Te Wang, EdD a, Alvin Thomas, PhD c, Lisa M. Schneper, PhD d, Colter Mitchell, PhD e, Ronald B. Mincy, PhD f, Sara McLanahan, PhD d, Daniel A. Notterman, MD, MA dAbstract |
Objective |
Ethnic/racial minority children in the United States are more likely to experience father loss to incarceration than White children, and limited research has examined the health implications of these ethnic/racial disparities. Telomere length is a biomarker of chronic stress that is predictive of adverse health outcomes. This study examined whether paternal incarceration predicted telomere length shortening among offspring from childhood to adolescence, whether maternal depression mediated the link, and whether ethnicity/race moderated results.
Method |
Research participants included 2,395 families in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study, a national and longitudinal cohort study of primarily low-income families from 20 large cities in the United States. Key constructs were measured when children were on average ages 9 (2007-2010) and 15 (2014-2017).
Results |
Children who experienced paternal incarceration exhibited shorter telomere lengths between ages 9 and 15, and changes in maternal depression mediated this finding. Specifically, mothers who experienced a partner’s incarceration were more likely to have depression between children’s ages 9 and 15. In turn, increases in maternal depression between children’s ages 9 and 15 predicted more accelerated telomere length shortening among children during this period. Paternal incarceration was more prevalent and frequent for ethnic/racial minority youth than for White youth.
Conclusion |
Paternal incarceration is associated with a biomarker of chronic stress among children in low-income families. Rates of paternal incarceration were more prevalent and frequent among Black American and multiethnic/multiracial families than among White Americans. As a result, the mass incarceration crisis of the criminal justice system is likely shaping intergenerational ethnic/racial health disparities.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : depression, ethnicity/race, incarceration, telomeres
Plan
| This research was funded by grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD36916, R01HD076592, R01MH103761, P2CHD047879, R01HD36916, R01HD39135, R01HD40421, R01HD036916, R01HD039135, and R01HD04042), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD011716), and National Institute on Aging (R25AG053227). |
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| This article is part of a special series devoted to addressing bias, bigotry, racism, and mental health disparities through research, practice, and policy. The series is edited by Assistant Editor Eraka Bath, MD, Deputy Editor Wanjikũ F.M. Njoroge, Associate Editor Robert R. Althoff, MD, PhD, and Editor-in-Chief Douglas K. Novins, MD. |
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| Drs. Del Toro, Fine, Wang, Mitchell, and Notterman served as the statistical experts for this research. |
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| Author Contributions |
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| Conceptualization: Del Toro, Notterman |
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| Data curation: Schneper, Mitchell, Mincy, McLanahan |
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| Formal analysis: Del Toro, Fine, Schneper, McLanahan, Notterman |
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| Funding acquisition: Mitchell, Mincy, McLanahan, Notterman |
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| Investigation: Schneper, Mitchell, Mincy, McLanahan, Notterman |
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| Methodology: Del Toro, Fine, Thomas, Schneper, Mitchell, Mincy, McLanahan, Notterman |
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| Project administration: Thomas, Mincy, Notterman |
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| Resources: Schneper, Mitchell, McLanahan |
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| Software: Del Toro |
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| Supervision: Wang, Mitchell, Mincy, McLanahan, Notterman |
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| Writing – original draft: Del Toro, Fine, Wang |
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| Writing – review and editing: Del Toro, Fine, Wang, Thomas, Schneper, Mitchell, Mincy, Notterman |
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| Disclosure: Drs. Del Toro, Fine, Wang, Thomas, Schneper, Mitchell, Mincy, McLanahan, and Notterman have reported no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. |
Vol 61 - N° 3
P. 423-433 - mars 2022 Retour au numéro
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