Conditions that influence coping mechanisms in Latina mothers affected by incarceration: A secondary analysis using the vulnerability framework

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess women's vulnerability to becoming involved with the legal system as it relates to their exposure, sensitivity, and resiliency to specific experiences associated with incarceration before, during, and after their confinement using the vulnerability framework. We sampled 12 women who self‐identified as Latina mothers from local jail annexes, probation department offices, and substance use treatment centers in South Central Texas. We conducted a qualitative, secondary analysis. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) “[The abuse] just kept happening;” (2) “[Incarceration] was an excessive interference;” and (3) “I wasn't there back then [for my children], but now I can be [there for them] in some way.” We also identified subthemes. More research and culturally tailored programming are needed to bridge services across legal system sites (jails, prisons, probation) that interact with this population of women to provide supportive services.Public ContributionWe would like to recognize community stakeholders who work in the local jail, probation, and medication treatment centers who helped with the distribution of fliers and participant recruitment along with the women who shared their experiences following incarceration for the original study's data used in this secondary analysis.

An intervention development study of an mHealth app to manage women’s health and safety while on probation

“…Although probation is considered less disruptive than incarceration, many women have described social and economic barriers that inhibit access to appropriate healthcare services, which may lead to higher rates of morbidity, mortality, and rearrest (Hawks et al, 2020;Lorvick et al, 2022). Barriers or contextual issues that may interfere with their health are often related to unsafe housing, limited transportation and childcare, the inability to obtain health insurance, and fear of stigma or rearrest (Crawford et al, 2022a(Crawford et al, , 2023c.…”

Sociocultural and contextual influences on mental health

“…In the second article, Crawford et al (2023) explored the coping strategies of Latina women involved with the legal system. The authors identified themes related to traumatic experiences before, during, and after incarceration, which had implications for the women's coping responses.…”

“…The authors identified themes related to traumatic experiences before, during, and after incarceration, which had implications for the women's coping responses. However, they also highlighted a theme of resilience and overcoming following incarceration, with some women discussing reuniting with their children and engaging in adaptive coping (Crawford et al, 2023). The authors emphasized the importance of providing trauma-informed theories to guide education programs for nurses, as well as the need for culturally tailored interventions specific to women post-incarceration (Crawford et al, 2023).…”