A recent study published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health reveals that children who experienced parental incarceration before age 18 are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression or PTSD by midlife.

Led by Berkeley Franz, this research, conducted by undergraduate Victoria Ward and graduate student Hannah Grace Rew, underscores the long-term mental health impacts of parental incarceration, emphasizing its significance as a public health challenge.

With over five million children in the U.S. having had a parent in jail or prison, this widespread issue often involves trauma such as abuse, neglect, and household instability.

The study highlights that parental incarceration disproportionately affects Black children, though racial disparities in diagnosis may influence these findings.

Experts are calling for early intervention and trauma-informed support services for children of incarcerated parents, urging healthcare providers and policymakers to treat this as a critical health concern.

Importantly, the research found no significant link between parental incarceration and ADHD, and the effects were consistent regardless of whether the mother or father was incarcerated, or the child's gender.