Confidence in Attachment Relationships and Marital Status as Protective Factors for Self-Perceived Parental Role and In-Person Visitation with Children Among Incarcerated Fathers†
Corresponding Author
Michele Giovanni Laquale Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Additional information and reprint requests:
Michele Giovanni Laquale, Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication
University “Aldo Moro” of Bari
Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio, 42
70122 Bari
Italy
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGabrielle Coppola Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorRosalinda Cassibba Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorMaria Pasceri M.A.
Department for Penitentiary Administration, Penitentiary Institutes of Reggio Emilia, via L. Settembrini, 9, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorSusanna Pietralunga Ph.D.
Department of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, viale A. Allegri, 9, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorAlessandro Taurino Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Semeraro M.A.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorIgnazio Grattagliano Psy.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Michele Giovanni Laquale Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Additional information and reprint requests:
Michele Giovanni Laquale, Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication
University “Aldo Moro” of Bari
Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio, 42
70122 Bari
Italy
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGabrielle Coppola Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorRosalinda Cassibba Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorMaria Pasceri M.A.
Department for Penitentiary Administration, Penitentiary Institutes of Reggio Emilia, via L. Settembrini, 9, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorSusanna Pietralunga Ph.D.
Department of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, viale A. Allegri, 9, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorAlessandro Taurino Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Semeraro M.A.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorIgnazio Grattagliano Psy.D.
Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro” of Bari, Palazzo Chiaia-Napolitano via Crisanzio 42, 70122 Bari, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The study aimed at investigating the role of confidence in attachment relationships and marital status as protective factors for incarcerated fathers’ self-perceived parental role and in-person contacts with their children. Participants included 150 inmate fathers and 145 nonincarcerated control fathers who provided background sociodemographic information and completed two self-reports, the Attachment Style Questionnaire and the Self-Perception of Parental Role. A two-phased cluster analytic plan allowed us to highlight two profiles of self-perceived parental roles, with incarceration and low confidence in attachment relationships increasing the risk of the less optimal of the two profiles. Higher confidence in attachment relationships and having a stable romantic relationship increased the likelihood of incarcerated fathers engaging in frequent contacts with their children, while the profile of self-perceived parental role had no effect. Implications for practice are discussed, and suggestions for further research are provided.
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