Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Sharon Xuereb

Abstract

Juvenile criminal offending has become a serious social concern. The strongest predictors of juvenile delinquency are low parental attachments, the absence of capable guardians, and an unstable family structure. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of young adult men between the ages of 18 and 25 who, as children, experienced their fathers’ incarceration, how the incarceration influenced attachment between the father and son, and how it also influenced the sons’ involvement with the juvenile justice system. The theoretical base for this study was attachment theory. This theory was suitable for this study as attachment theory is a framework for understanding the development of an individual’s social functioning and social behavior. Participants were recruited through a method of purposeful sampling selection. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 7 adult male participants were held face-to-face. The data from the interviews were analyzed and coded using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged from the analysis: trust issues due to feelings of abandonment, feeling like an outcast, and feeling lost because of not having a role model. By acknowledging participants’ experiences, the results of this study can be used to develop literature regarding paternal incarceration, attachment, and the negative effects relating to children and their juvenile justice involvement. This knowledge can assist in positive social change by focusing on school retention, as the dropout rates for this population are high. By engaging families right after the father’s incarceration and providing resources, this can help prevent future issues that are caused by paternal incarceration.

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