Parental Supportiveness, Partner Contact, and Relationship Satisfaction Among Incarcerated Individuals

The United States has the highest incarceration rate globally. The stressors of incarceration put strain on the romantic relationships of those incarcerated. Using data from the Multi-site Family Study on Incarceration, Parenting, and Partnering ( n = 440), structural equation modeling was used to test a model exploring how parental supportiveness in childhood, communication, relationship fidelity and bond, and partner contact each contribute to relationship satisfaction. Regression analyses indicated that relationship satisfaction was positively predicted by partner contact and relationship bond but negatively associated with communication. Parental attachment, as measured by parental supportiveness, was associated with relationship bond, relationship fidelity, and partner contact during incarceration but weakened by communication. Communication was negatively associated with parental supportiveness, partner contact, and decreased fidelity. Relationship fidelity was positively associated with partner contact. These findings emphasize the importance of preserving familial connections through visits and communication. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.