Despair by Association? The Mental Health of Mothers with Children by Ever-Incarcerated Fathers

Christopher Wildeman, Yale University
Kristin Turney, University of Michigan

A burgeoning literature considers the consequences of mass imprisonment for the well-being of adult men and—albeit to a lesser degree—their children. Yet virtually no quantitative research considers the consequences of mass imprisonment for the well-being of the marginalized women who form the link between (former) prisoners and their children. This article extends research on the consequences of mass imprisonment by considering the association between paternal incarceration and maternal depression and life dissatisfaction using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Results show that paternal incarceration increases a mother’s risk of a major depressive episode and her level of life dissatisfaction, net of a variety of influences including prior mental health and paternal antisocial behaviors. Furthermore, we explain these relationships using mediating mechanisms related to material hardship, relationship quality, and parenting stress.