Children exposed to the arrest of a family member: Associations with mental health.
The arrest of a parent or other family member can be detrimental to children's health. To study the impact of exposure to the arrest of a family member on children's mental health and how said association may change across developmental periods, we examined baseline data for children (birth through 11 years) entering family-based systems of care (SOC). Children exposed to the arrest of a family member had experienced significantly more 5.38 (SD= 2.59) different types of potentially traumatic events (PTE) than children not exposed to arrest 2.84 (SD= 2.56). Multiple regression model results showed that arrest exposure was significantly associated with greater behavioral and emotional challenges after controlling for children's age, gender, race/ethnicity, household income, caregiver's education, parenting factors, and other PTE exposure. Further analyses revealed differences in internalizing and externalizing behaviors associated with arrest exposure across developmental levels. This study highlights some of the mental health challenges for children exposed to the arrest of a family member, while adding to our knowledge of how such an event affects children across different developmental periods. More trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate systems need to be in place at all levels to assist children and families experiencing arrest.
Division of Prevention and Community Research, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Yvonne Humenay
YH
Roberts
Division of Prevention and Community Research, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Frank J
FJ
Snyder
Division of Prevention and Community Research, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Joy S
JS
Kaufman
The Consultation Center, New Haven, CT.
Meghan K
MK
Finley
The Consultation Center, New Haven, CT.
Amy
A
Griffin
Rhode Island Department of Children and Families, Providence, RI.
Janet
J
Anderson
Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Hartford, CT.
Tim
T
Marshall
LEARN Regional Educational Center, Old Lyme, CT.
Susan
S
Radway
Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI.
Virginia
V
Stack
Division of Prevention and Community Research, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Cindy A
CA
Crusto
arrest; development; mental health; trauma; young children