Latino Young Adults’ Experiences as Children and Adolescents With Incarcerated Parents

Parental incarceration has a significant impact on children’s and adolescents’ lives, including emotional and mental well-being, which can carry to their adulthood. Although parental incarceration has been researched, the lived experiences and mental health needs of Latino children and adolescents of incarcerated parents have not been explored. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the recollections of young Latino adults about their lived experiences and mental health needs as children and adolescents with incarcerated parents. Data were collected through semistructured participant interviews with open-ended questions. Participants were 10 Latino young adults who had experienced having at least one biological parent incarcerated when they were younger. Data were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method to gain a better understanding of individuals’ personal experiences and how they interpret them in the context of their social and personal lives. Analysis of the data revealed the following themes: (a) social and cultural adjustment, (b) mental health struggles, and (c) behavioral struggles. The research findings help to fill a gap in the literature regarding the experiences and mental health needs specific to Latino children and adolescents with an incarcerated parent. These results may have implications for positive social change by increasing awareness and improving the policies for growth and development that help to improve support services for Latino young people.