Children with Incarcerated Parents: The Relation Between Parent-Child Contact Frequency and Quality and Children’s Social Problems

The impact of parental incarceration on child social development remains understudied, with limited research exploring how parent-child contact may influence social problems. Grounded in an attachment framework, this study examines the relationship between both the frequency and quality of contact with incarcerated parents and child social problems using data from 125 caregivers who had had primary custody of their children. Data were drawn from the Parent Child Study, a longitudinal randomized controlled trial involving incarcerated parents and their families. Path analytic results indicate that while frequent contact was associated with increased social problems, interaction quality significantly mediated this relation, with higher quality interactions associated with fewer social problems. Post-hoc analyses revealed that the relationship between contact frequency and child social problems is moderated by the quality of parent-child interactions, suggesting that the impact of frequent contact may vary depending on its quality. A follow-up multiple regression model identified additional significant predictors. Findings have implications for psychosocial interventions prioritizing the quality of parent-child interactions during incarceration to support child well-being. Parent-child contact frequency and quality were significantly associated with child social problems during parental incarceration. Post-hoc analyses suggested that contact quality moderated the impact of contact frequency on child social problems. Higher quality parent-child interactions were associated with reductions in child social problems, despite frequent contact. Multiple regression analysis identified relationship quality with caregivers as a key predictor of child social development. Findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing the quality of parent-child contact during incarceration.