Date of Submission
5-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Community Psychology
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Melissa L. Whitson, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Rosemarie R. Lillianne Macias, Ph.D.
Keywords
Attachment Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Reentry, Incarceration, Parent-Child Relationship
LCSH
Attachment behavior, Mass incarceration--United States, Prisoners--Deinstitutionalization, Parent and child
Abstract
Mass incarceration is a major problem in the U.S., with people of color being the ones most affected by it. Most of the people who are incarcerated are men, and a stark number of these men are parents. Reentry is a critical period for people released where they return home to their communities and families and have to reintegrate into life outside of prison. The recidivism rate in the U.S. is the highest of any other nation, making reentry an important area of focus to help repair the harms caused by mass incarceration. Many men who return home from incarceration are fathers, and this parent-child relationship adds complexity to the reentry experience. Attachment styles and patterns are important indicators of relationship stability and success, and a stark number of men who are incarcerated have experienced trauma in their lives. The objective of this thesis is to examine the ways in which attachment patterns and trauma experienced in childhood influence parenting for men during reentry. A secondary mixed methods data analysis was performed from a larger study exploring the experience of adult men navigating the process of reintegrating into their families and communities after incarceration with the support of a community-based, non-profit reentry organization. Data analyzed is that of nine men who were interviewed, and 24 that were surveyed as part of the primary study. Results from this secondary analysis revealed themes related to trauma and trauma processing, personal growth, and security in parent-child relationships. The themes and quantitative results shed light on the importance of emotional growth and trauma processing to learn positive parenting practices for men during the reentry phase.
Recommended Citation
Hoerner, Lily A., "The Role of Attachment and Childhood Trauma for Men Parenting During the Reentry Phase: A Mixed Methods Secondary Analysis" (2024). Master's Theses. 225.
https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/masterstheses/225