Peer Relations of Children with Incarcerated Parents

Having a history of parental incarceration is associated with an increased risk for numerous challenges. The present study examined several factors of peer relations among children with incarcerated parents and their peers to determine if problematic peer relations play a role in the difficulties these children experience. Participants were 77 elementary school children and their caregivers from a high-crime, high-poverty neighborhood, over half of whom had experienced parental incarceration. Caregivers assessed their child\u27s social behavior and problem behaviors, and, during the course of an interview, children\u27s helping behavior was assessed through a behavioral measure. Children with incarcerated parents displayed significantly more aggressive behavior than their peers and, according to their caregivers, they also tended to have more aggressive social behavior and to engage in greater relational aggression. Because aggression is an important indicator of problematic peer relations, it is very likely that the increased difficulties that children with incarcerated parents face are partially related to additional challenges with their peer relations