Defense Date

7-31-2025

Graduation Date

Fall 12-18-2025

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

EdD

Department

Professional Doctorate in Educational Leadership (ProDEL)

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

Dr. Rick McCown

Committee Member

Dr. Amy Olson

Committee Member

Dr. Carol Schoenecker

Keywords

paternal incarceration, African American families, childhood trauma, identity formation, ACEs, qualitative narrative research

Abstract

This qualitative dissertation explores the long-term psychological, relational, and systemic impacts of paternal incarceration on adult children. Guided by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Theory, Attachment Theory, and Family Process Theory, this study examines two research questions:

(1) What types of childhood trauma are associated with paternal incarceration?

(2) How does the childhood trauma associated with paternal incarceration impact one in adulthood?

The study draws on three in-depth narrative interviews with adults who experienced paternal incarceration in childhood. These interviews, framed as dialogic and reflexive spaces, illuminate the deep and layered consequences of incarceration across the lifespan.

Five central findings emerged: (1) the incarceration of a father caused psychological and emotional trauma marked by suppression, insecurity, and relational strain; (2) incarceration destabilized caregiving structures, physical environments, and emotional consistency; (3) inherited patterns of absence and silence shaped adult identity; (4) participants developed distinct coping mechanisms, both protective and expressive; and (5) systemic and social barriers shaped life trajectories through stigma, surveillance, and diminished opportunities. These findings suggest that paternal incarceration is not a peripheral experience, but a central trauma that reconfigures attachment systems and identity formation from childhood into adulthood.

This study contributes to the limited body of research focusing on the adult reflections of children with incarcerated parents, particularly within the African American community. It argues for the recognition of paternal incarceration as a primary Adverse Childhood Experience and emphasizes the necessity of culturally responsive, trauma-informed interventions. By amplifying the voices of those directly impacted, this dissertation challenges dominant narratives of justice and calls for systemic reforms that center healing and intergenerational accountability.

Language

English

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