Cleveland State University EngagedScholarship@CSU ETD Archive 2008 Collateral Damage: Examining the Impact of Maternal Incarceration on the Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Educational Functioning of Children : Released Mothers' Perspectives Roberta Treadway Gaston Cleveland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/etdarchive Part of the Education Commons How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! Recommended Citation Gaston, Roberta Treadway, "Collateral Damage: Examining the Impact of Maternal Incarceration on the Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Educational Functioning of Children : Released Mothers' Perspectives" (2008). ETD Archive. 103. https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/etdarchive/103 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by EngagedScholarship@CSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in ETD Archive by an authorized administrator of EngagedScholarship@CSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COLLATERAL DAMAGE: EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF MATERNAL INCARCERATION ON THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL AND EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN: RELEASED MOTHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ROBERTA TREADWAY GASTON Bachelor of Science in Education Bowling Green State University June, 1977 Master of Education Kent State University August, 1978 Master of Arts Northeastern Illinois University June, 1985 Submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN URBAN EDUCATION at the CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY December, 2008 Signature sheet © by Roberta Treadway Gaston 2008 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated in loving memory of my mother, Ossie, who departed this life way too soon, but left me with a deep understanding of the meaning of the word fortitude by the way she lived her life and overcame adversity. She instilled in me the Faith that allows me to know that I have a spirit within me that can accomplish all that I seek to accomplish. I know now that He that is within me is truly greater than he that is in the world. This work is also dedicated with much love to my sister Garnet who has been the iron in my life since the passing of our mother. I have always looked up to her as a big sister and credit her for stimulating my desire to learn. She has enriched my spiritual growth and development through her Winds of Change Ministries and encouraged me in all my endeavors. Last but not least, I dedicate this work to my husband Donell, my son Dorian and my brother Frank. Thank you for always being there and encouraging me throughout this process. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are a number of people who have contributed to this lengthy endeavor who I would like to acknowledge. First, I want to thank Dr. Judy Stahlman for being both my advisor and committee chair. Her support, advice and guidance helped me to forge on when the going got tough. I would also like to thank Dr. Catherine Hansman for being my methodologist and for helping me to bring order to my data. Her encouragement has also been invaluable. My appreciation also goes out to Dr. Karl Wheatley, Dr. Sarah Toman, Dr. Mittie Jones and Dr. Ralph Mawdsley for their time and advice as members of my committee. Their advice early in the writing process helped to guide my efforts. COLLATERAL DAMAGE: EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF MATERNAL INCARCERATION ON THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL AND EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN: RELEASED MOTHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ROBERTA TREADWAY GASTON ABSTRACT The United States Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that women continue to be incarcerated at record numbers. The majority of these women are mothers to children under the age of 18. Consequently more and more children are being negatively effected as a result of this forced separation from their mothers. The research on children with an incarcerated mother documents the adverse impact on the well-being of the children left behind. The children experience a range of difficulties including emotional and psychological difficulties, educational problems and behavioral difficulties. Children who have a mother in prison or jail have been labeled as among the riskiest of the high risk children in our nation. Despite these documented harms there are limited studies on how children of incarcerated mothers suffer. Five previously incarcerated mothers participated in individual interviews designed to obtain their perspectives about any social, emotional, behavioral and/or educational difficulties their children experienced during their term of incarceration. The mothers were also asked to report their perceptions of any social, emotional, behavioral and/or educational difficulties their children experienced upon reunification. Additionally, the mothers discussed what types of assistance could have been beneficial to their children in experiencing fewer problems. vi This social problem is important to study because it has serious ramifications for an entire generation of children. It will also help to shed light on the problem of increased incarceration of women and will give voice to their plight as well as the plight of their children. Results of the study supported the assumption that previously incarcerated mothers would report that their children experienced a range of difficulties including social, emotional, behavioral and educational difficulties both during the time the mother was incarcerated and upon reunification with the mother. The results also indicate that mothers believe that their children could benefit from interventions such as individual and group counseling to assist them in suffering less social, emotional, behavioral and/or educational difficulties during their absence and after reunification. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE .......................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem and Its Significance. ......................................... 1 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................... 4 Purpose of the Study................................................................................... 4 Significance of the Study ............................................................................. 5 Research Questions .................................................................................... 6 Limitations of the Study .............................................................................. 6 Definition of Terms ..................................................................................... 8 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................................ 10 Introduction .............................................................................................. 11 Critical Race Perspective ........................................................................... 12 Social Profile of the Mothers .................................................................... 14 Who Are the Children – What Is the Impact ............................................. 19 Effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ................................................ 26 Summary ................................................................................................... 30 III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................................. 32 Introduction .............................................................................................. 32 viii Perspective of the Researcher .................................................................. 35 Research Questions .................................................................................. 36 Pilot Study ................................................................................................. 37 Research Design ........................................................................................ 39 Participants ............................................................................................... 41 Procedures and Data Collection ............................................................... 42 Analysis of Data ......................................................................................... 43 Assumptions .............................................................................................. 45 Issues of Reliability and Validity................................................................ 45 IV. FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 47 Introduction .............................................................................................. 47 Description of Mothers in the Study......................................................... 49 Summary of Mothers’ Demographics ....................................................... 54 Mother’s Perceptions of Children’s Difficulties during Incarceration ...... 55 Social Difficulties ................................................................................. 55 Analysis of Social Difficulties ......................................................... 58 Emotional Difficulties .......................................................................... 59 Analysis