Confidence in Attachment Relationships and Marital Status as Protective Factors for Self-Perceived Parental Role and In-Person Visitation with Children Among Incarcerated Fathers

Romantic attachment, childhood stability, depression, and PTSD in couples with an incarcerated partner

Incarceration has a multitude of effects on prisoners' finances, health, education, employment, and family relationships. Incarceration complicates the maintenance of attachment bonds between romantic partners. Data from the Multi-site Family Study on Incarceration, Parenting, and Partnering were analyzed to examine the effects of childhood stability on adult romantic attachment while controlling for the effects of PTSD and depression within the carceral population. Findings indicate that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression have statistically significant effects on adult romantic attachment. PTSD on romantic attachment for men is statistically significant (p < 0.05) at -0.193 with an overall standardized effect of -0.086. For women, the effect is statistically significant (p < 0.01) at -0.235 with an overall standardized effect of -0.1. Effects of depression on romantic attachment for men is statistically significant (p < 0.001) -0.129 with an overall standardized effect of -0.229. For women, depression is also statistically significant (p < 0.001) at -0.153 with a standardized effect of -0.265. We examined the effects of childhood stability on adult romantic attachment while controlling for the effects of PTSD and depression within the carceral population. Findings supported our hypothesis that individuals with better childhood stability will experience better romantic attachments. Findings related to our hypothesis that having a partner with better childhood stability is positively associated with better romantic attachment produced mixed results. Clinical implications are discussed, and future directions call for research, practice, and training to improve outcomes for justice-involved romantic partners, their attachment, and consideration of covariates of depression and PTSD.

Fear of hypoglycemia in Italian mothers of children with type 1 diabetes: the mediating role of resilience

OBJECTIVE

Fear of hypoglycemia for children with diabetes influences parental life and could increase parental stress. The present study aimed to explore the association between resilience, the self-perception of the parental role, and fear of hypoglycemia in mothers of children with type I diabetes (T1DM).

METHODS

Ninety mothers (mean age: 44.20 years) of children with a T1DM diagnosis (mean age: 11.48 years) were recruited from an association for parents and completed an online self-report questionnaire packet that includes: Fear of Hypoglycemia Survey, Self-Perception of the Parental Role and Resilience Scale for Adults. Participants were recruited in 2017. Data collection lasted 10 months. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS statistical package, version 22, and the PROCESS macro program by Hayes.

RESULTS

The analysis of the mediation model shows that resilience assumes a mediational role in the relationships between the parental role and preoccupation with hypoglycemia. In particular, the mother's perceived competence and role balance can influence the development and increase of the mother's resilience, which in turn can allow a decrease in the mother's worry about the possible hypoglycemic episode of her child.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that resilience is a significant topic to focus on in interventions designed to increase the self-perception of the parental role and reduce fear of hypoglycemia in mothers.