When parents spend time in prison, their children’s health and health behaviors are affected for decades, suggests research in Pediatrics. researchers examined data on about 13,000 young adults (ages 24 to 32) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health. About 10 percent had had a parent incarcerated during their childhoods. These participants were more likely to forego needed health care, smoke, abuse alcohol and prescription and illicit drugs, and engage in risky sexual behaviors. These results held after controlling for factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, age, family structure and parental education. (Monitor on Psychology)

Susie Bean Gives