Impact of parents' incarceration on their adolescent children

Collateral Consequences of Parents Incarcerations for Their Adolescent Children: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

NIH-funded research Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10631902

This study looks at how having a parent in jail affects teenagers, especially in terms of their mental health, behavior, and school challenges, and it aims to understand the long-term impacts on their lives.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-10631902 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how the incarceration of parents affects their adolescent children, focusing on the long-term consequences such as mental health issues, behavioral problems, and educational challenges. By utilizing data from the Northwestern Juvenile Project, the study aims to provide a detailed analysis of the frequency and duration of parental incarceration and its collateral effects on children. The research will track these adolescents over time to understand the various ways their lives are impacted, including changes in living situations and caregiver dynamics.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-20 who have experienced parental incarceration.

Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced parental incarceration or are outside the age range of 12-20 may not receive benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved support systems and interventions for children affected by parental incarceration.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on parental incarceration, this research is novel in its comprehensive approach to examining the specific collateral consequences on adolescents.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Mental disordersMental health disordersPsychiatric DiseasePsychiatric Disorderpsychological disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.