The Experiences of Siblings of Incarcerated Individuals: Clinical Recommendations

Date of Award

8-24-2024

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D.

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Lavita Nadkarni

Second Advisor

Lynett Henderson Metzger

Third Advisor

Sonja Holt

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Incarceration, Siblings, Mental health, Family relationships

Abstract

Siblings of incarcerated individuals are a neglected and poorly understood population impacted by mass incarceration. The children and adolescents experiencing an incarcerated sibling may be at increased risk of mental health concerns, flying under the radar of professionals in contact with this population. The aim of this paper is to explore the experiences of individuals that navigated the incarceration of a sibling during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood to better understand what supports and interventions can be utilized to increase adjustment and mental wellness. Through qualitative data obtained through survey, this case study describes the perspective of sisters with an incarcerated brother and how having a legally involved sibling affected various aspects of their life. The results highlighted issues in family and non-family relationships, self-esteem and identity development, stigma, and lack of mental health resources. Suggestions and recommendations are provided for mental health and non-mental health professionals who may be working with this population.

Copyright Date

6-27-2024

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Heather Burlas

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

35 pgs

File Size

266 KB

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