Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37583767›Full record

ArticleFamily relations2023

Family reunification after fathers are released from prison: Perspectives on children's adjustment.

Luke Muentner, Pajarita Charles

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Family relations, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Relational Therapy in Post-Incarceration Reentry: A Scoping Review.Journal of marital and family therapy · 2026
    Article
  2. Parental Incarceration and Parent-Youth Closeness.Journal of marriage and the family · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Luke MuentnerDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN.ORCID 0000-0002-0969-581X
Pajarita CharlesSandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.ORCID 0000-0002-8451-6148

Funding

Promoting Healthy Development Among Children of Fathers with Antisocial BehaviorR00HD081273 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI CHARLES, PAJARITA · 2017 to 2019
$742k
Promoting Healthy Development among Children of Fathers with Antisocial BehaviorK99HD081273 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · PI CHARLES, PAJARITA · 2015 to 2016
$212k
NICHD NIH HHS K99 HD081273NICHD NIH HHS R00 HD081273
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This qualitative study examined adult perspectives on the adjustments children face through the process of paternal incarceration and eventual release. Background: While the United States leads the world in incarceration, 95% of imprisoned individuals return to community life. Despite poor outcomes for children with incarcerated fathers, less is known as to how they fair after fathers' release. Conceptualizing paternal incarceration and reentry as linked rather than disparate events, this study examines perspectives on family separation, reunification, and children's adjustment when fathers return from prison. Method: The sample consisted of 38 participants (19 previously incarcerated fathers, nine coparenting mothers, and 10 relatives) who shared perspectives on 63 children's adjustments. The semistructured interviews were analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes were evident: (a) Paternal incarceration has a lasting toll on children that complicates reunification processes, introduces hurdles to maintaining togetherness, and is tied to changes in children's behaviors; and (b) reentry renews opportunity for father involvement that bolsters resilience despite ongoing systemic vulnerabilities. Conclusion: Postrelease family reunification may present challenges for children's adjustment, though supported transitions may curb some concerns. The findings call for strengths-oriented, needs-focused, and evidence-based reentry strategies that support entire family systems.

Indexed as

children of incarcerated parentsfathersincarcerationprisonreentryrelease

Identifiers

PMID37583767
PMCPMC10424776

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.