Predictors of Relationship Continuity in Families With Incarcerated Fathers

Paternal incarceration can destabilize families due to the disruption and stress that follow. For mothers, maintaining a relationship with incarcerated fathers from home while raising a child can be incredibly difficult. What keeps a relationship from dissolving after a father is incarcerated is not well understood. This study used family stress theory to identify the family capabilities and meanings associated with increased odds of relationship continuity among a sample of 116 families with incarcerated fathers. The findings revealed that families stayed intact when mothers reported a history of paternal incarceration and a positive relationship with the father prior to incarceration. This study shows the value of family meanings over family capabilities in overcoming the risks of relationship dissolution associated with paternal incarceration.