Incarceration and the Family Environment: Examining the Influence on Child and Adolescent Behavior

This dissertation presents a line of research that expands the current literature on the impact of family member incarceration by specifically focusing on how family dynamics and youth behavioral outcomes are influenced. Within this line of studies, I first examine historical reports of childhood adversity and antisocial behaviors among adult offenders who grew up as children of a parent who was arrested or incarcerated; second, I explore the impact of family relationships and household member incarceration on teenage pregnancy; finally, I evaluate the impact of maternal communication patterns and parental incarceration on negative sexual health outcomes, including sexual activity, teenage pregnancy, contraceptive use, and history of sexually transmitted diseases.