Incarcerated mothers: the parent-child bond inside and beyond prison walls

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Emanuela Saita, Denise Vagnini, Federica Bonazza, Sara Molgora
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/3
Language Italian Pages 13 P. 56-68 File size 202 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2026-003006
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Introduction: Incarceration represents a condition with a significant impact on physical and mental health, and it is associated with an increased risk of both somatic and psychological suffering. Within this context, incarcerated women constitute a particularly vulnerable population, often characterized by life histories marked by trauma, neglect, and structural inequalities, as well as specific needs related to reproductive health and parenting. This qualitative study explores the experience of motherhood in prison and the mother-child bond, with a particular focus on intergenerational processes and family dynamics within correctional settings. Methods: The study involved 10 incarcerated mothers recruited from an institute of custody for incarcerated mothers (ICAM) and a prison located Northern Italy. Participants were interviewed using the Clinical Generational Interview and data were analyzed through an integrated qualitative approach. Results: Findings highlight the widespread presence of family histories characterized by relational adversity and dysfunctional intergenerational patterns. However, significant differences emerge depending on the correctional context: co-residence with children in ICAM facilities fosters continuity of the mother-child bond and supports potential identity transformation, whereas separation in prison is associated with feelings of guilt, weakened maternal identity, and greater emotional suffering. Conclusions: Overall, motherhood in prison appears as an ambivalent experience, simultaneously a source of vulnerability and a potential space for transformation, capable of influencing processes of self-reconstruction and developmental trajectories. .

Keywords: female incarceration, parenting in prison, mother-child attachment, correctional institution, ICAM, correctional psychology

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Emanuela Saita, Denise Vagnini, Federica Bonazza, Sara Molgora, Madri detenute: il legame genitoriale dentro e oltre le sbarre in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 3/2026, pp 56-68, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2026-003006