7-3 Final Project Submission: Research Study Report

Audie Custer
Department of Mathematics, Southern New Hampshire University
MAT-133-J3672 Introduction to Statistical Analysis 23EW3
Professor Danalea Woehl, M.S.
February 19, 2023
 7-3 Final Project Submission: Research Study Report

Introduction

Focus

The purpose of the study, Partnership after prison: Couple relationships during reentry, is
to better understand the dynamics of couples before, during, and after incarceration of the male
partner in the dyad.

Purpose

The authors of the study point out that most research on inmate relationships focuses on
how the dynamic affects recidivism rates (Comfort et al., 2018). Although this information is
important, it does not lay the ground work for mapping out how to support families with an
incarcerated partner. The aim of this study is to collect information about the level of contact
and support families get while a partner is incarcerated and how that predicts future outcomes
(Comfort et al., 2018). The goal is to promote further studies that might find different strategies
to help families reintegrate after a prison sentence is fulfilled (Comfort et al., 2018).

Group Being Studied

In this study, the researchers used the experiences of 641 couples (Comfort et al., 2018).
Since there is a low instance of marriage in this demographic the researchers had to use some
parameters to describe the couples they were to study. They must be intimate partners and at
least one partner must describe the relationship as monogamous and long term (Comfort et. al,
2018). Most of the couple had one or more children or had coparented at least one child
together (Comfort et. al, 2018). The male partner must be incarcerated. Most of the incarcerated
partners had a history of going between incarceration and home more than once (Comfort et. al,
2018)

Analysis

Research Methods

This study relies on qualitative and quantitative data to give a more complete view of
inmate relationships before, during, and after incarceration.

The qualitative measurements come from interviews with each member of the couple
separately. There is a baseline interview two and a half years into the male partner’s
incarceration as well as post release (Comfort et al., 2018). The researchers collect information
about the quality of the couples relationships. The responses are coded, and independent
researchers read the verbatim transcripts and code the responses (Comfort et al., 2018). The
coded responses are used to better understand the quantitative findings.

For the quantitative data, surveys were used. Descriptive analyses were first conducted
to determine how the couples relationships differed at different points before, during, and after
incarceration (Comfort et al., 2018). Once this data is collected, matched pairs t-tests were
conducted to allow the researchers to see the differences in the couples responses at specific time
points (Comfort et al., 2018). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate
the factors that predicted outcomes for the couples in the study (Comfort et al., 2018).

Finally, the researchers used previously published literature and the results of the
bivariate logistic regressions they assessed how independent variables influenced the quality of
the couple’s relationships post incarceration (Comfort et al., 2018). The following independent
variables were considered: duration of the relationship at the baseline, happiness in the
relationship, coparenting, contact allowed during incarceration, marital status, communication
skills, attitudes about monogamy, duration of the male’s sentence, and satisfaction with
assistance in staying in touch (Comfort et al., 2018). The model controlled for services the
male partner might have received during incarceration regrading familial relationships.
Outcomes

Men reported significantly higher levels of the happiness with their relationship during
their incarceration than their partners did (Comfort et al., 2018). However, after release both
partners reported that relationship satisfaction was significantly lower after incarcerations
(Comfort et al., 2018). They also reported that they were significantly less likely to live together
post release (Comfort et al., 2018).

Qualitative data offered some insight into why relationships would end or be unhappy
post incarceration. Male and female participation almost unanimously agreed that reentry to the
family had new challenges that they were ill equipped to handle. They found that the coping
strategies that they had used while the male was incarcerated did not work well in society
(Comfort et al., 2018).

The most cited problem was that the couples had learned to not have open conversations
(Comfort et al., 2018). This was partially due to the fact that their phone conversations were
recorded and subject to being listened to. That made couples very aware of what they were
saying and caused them to avoid sensitive subjects. Female members of the relationship dyad
often omitted upsetting information from their conversations (Comfort et al., 2018). They were
not forthcoming with household issues and financial issues because they did not want to worry
their partners. This kind of communication often caused the partners to not understand what it
would take to be successful post incarceration.

Many women in the study reported that they felt absolutely exhausted after taking care of
the family on their own during their partners incarceration (Comfort et al., 2018). They often
wanted their partner to come out ready to take over responsibilities and help them. However, the
men leaving prison often had substance abuse and mental health issues that needed to be
addressed. They also had barriers to employment that made it hard to generate income for their
family (Comfort et al., 2018). Many of the men reported feeling unable to decompress and
address the issues that would make them more successful while women reported that they felt
like they were caring for another child (Comfort et al., 2018).

The researchers found that the barriers to communication while a partner was
incarcerated did have an effect on outcomes of the relationship post release. Some couples were
unable to see their partner or have phone calls due to expenses. These couples had a hard time
reconnecting. They also found that men who receive services to reintegrate have better
outcomes after release (Comfort et al., 2018).

Discussion

Implications

The authors of this paper found that “the role of contact though letters, phone calls, and
visits during incarceration period have been repeatedly identified as pivotal in shaping and
sustaining family” (Comfort et al., 2018). However, they also cited that oftentimes the cost of
phone calls and visits are cost prohibitive for families (Comfort et al., 2018). Some families
actually lose track of family members because they are moved to a different facility and the
inmate has no way to contact family and friends (Comfort et al., 2018). For inmates that are
slated to return home after their sentence, this seems to be a problem. It does not seem fair to
their children and partners that they can not communicate. It seems like there needs to be a
movement to make at least some level of communication available to all inmates regardless of
the amount of money put on their books.

Next Steps

This study was able to compile some solid evidence of the struggles of couples with one
incarcerated partner. The researchers were able to establish a model that used qualitative and
quantitative information to codify experiences that made successful reunification less likely
(Comfort et al., 2018). One issue that stood out was that the couples who faired better post
reentry, were often committed, and had better communication skills during incarceration
(Comfort et al., 2018). Going forward, it would be interesting to see research that reflected
better what successful couples had done to achieve stability post release. With that information,
new programs could be implemented to build the specific skills while one partner was
incarcerated.
 Source

Comfort, M., Krieger, K. E., Landwehr, J., McKay, T., Lindquist, C. H., Feinberg, R., Kennedy,
E. K., & Bir, A. (2018). Partnership after prison: Couple relationships during reentry.
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 57(2), 188–205.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2018.1441208