Research Proposal
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KMewResearchProposal.docxRunning head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL 1
RESEARCH PROPOSAL 3
Review of Literature of the Effects of Parental Absence on Family Dynamics
Family Dynamics and Parents
The dynamics of a family are severely affected by the absence of a parent. Absence of a parent from a home is caused by a wide variety of reasons. Some include death, illegitimacy, geographic location due to employment and incarceration (Aaron and Dallaire, 2010). A contributing factor of family dynamics are also based on the cause due to the absence. Here we will focus on the effects due to parent incarceration. According to (Aaron and Dallaire, 2010), families with current or previous parental incarceration experienced some form of family victimization. The research also shows that family conflict is more prevalent within a household where there has been parental incarceration (Aaron and Dallaire, 2010). Therefore, families with one or more parent either currently or previously being incarcerated will likely exhibit greater levels of delinquency, stress, conflict and experience victimization (Wildemen and Western, 2010). While this research focuses on the delinquent behaviors and aspects of family life being influenced by incarceration of either parent; another article concentrates on the social environment and human capital deficits being influencing factors which results in unfortunate family outcomes when the father is the missing piece (Wildemen and Western, 2010). According to the existing research fathers with characteristics of ever being incarcerated, ever being abusive, ever abusing drugs or alcohol, having poor self-control, and or being a high school dropout accounts for the poor family outcomes compared to those fathers who were never incarcerated. In this article the research shows that the father/man of the house being incarcerated puts the family in the category of being a fragile family. This includes net loss, material hardship, and depression and social isolation in the partner (Wildermen and Western, 2010). The reviewing of the literature suggests that having a parent incarcerated either currently or previously can affect family relationships and their welfare (Wildermen and Western, 2010).
Mothers vs. Fathers Absence
Ideally, having a mother and father in the household reflects growth and development for children. Society is concerned when there is an absent father in the household and even more concern when the absence is that of the mother. According to (Chung, 2011), fathers or social fathers being incarcerated poses a higher risk for children due to lack of support, reduced family resources, economic, social and educational disadvantages. When a father or father figure is incarcerated, the social and emotional bonds between them and the children or mother may be disruptive (Chung, 2011). Other research focuses on the impacts and programs offered when having an incarcerated mother as well (Miller, et al, 2014). As stated by Miller, et al, (2014), incarcerated mothers face challenges like history of abuse and destructive family relationships which makes it problematic to break cycles of incarceration; also, mothers being incarcerated experience more stress and rage than incarcerated fathers. Though there is a negative impact on a mother being incarcerated; available to them are programs to help with building relationships with their children which will bring comfort during transition/release. The impact of either parent being incarcerated results in the household suffering from lack of necessities to succeed in life such as financial support, emotional bonds, and educational attainment (Chung, 2011). These types of situations have been linked to school dropouts, behavioral misconduct and emotional distress.
Employment, Academics, Skills and Parental Absence
To be successful in our society, there are two things that the research focuses on; academics and skills. As per the literature, the outcomes of academic success are less likely in children who experience incarceration from a member of the household than those that do not (Nichols and Loper, 2012). The results from this research shows that not necessarily incarceration by a parent, but by anyone residing within the household effect the attendance of the children in school and they also tend to have lower intellectual skills (Nichols and Loper, 2012). Numerous absences from school and a lack of skills results in high percentages of high school dropout. According to Geller, et al, (2011) results from incarceration also include humiliation when constantly being questioned about criminal background, lower income earnings, and increased risks of children living apart from the father. The correlation between these two studies show that incarceration can began to affect the family as early as the youngest child in grade school, to the parent or family member that was incarcerated when trying to establish employment.
Behavior and Parental Absence
