Children and Adolescents With Incarcerated Parents

<p>Parental incarceration has a significant impact on children's and adolescents' lives</p><p>including emotional and mental well-being which can carry to their adulthood. Although</p><p>parental incarceration has been researched the lived experiences and mental health needs</p><p>of Latino children and adolescents of incarcerated parents have not been explored. The</p><p>purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the recollections of</p><p>young Latino adults about their lived experiences and mental health needs as children and</p><p>adolescents with incarcerated parents. Data were collected through semistructured</p><p>participant interviews with open-ended questions. Participants were 10 Latino young</p><p>adults who had experienced having at least one biological parent incarcerated when they</p><p>were younger. Data were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis</p><p>method to gain a better understanding of individuals' personal experiences and how they</p><p>interpret them in the context of their social and personal lives. Analysis of the data</p><p>revealed the following themes: (a) social and cultural adjustment (b) mental health</p><p>struggles and (c) behavioral struggles. The research findings help to fill a gap in the</p><p>literature regarding the experiences and mental health needs specific to Latino children</p><p>and adolescents with an incarcerated parent. These results may have implications for</p><p>positive social change by increasing awareness and improving the policies for growth and</p><p>development that help to improve support services for Latino young people.</p>