MAT133 Mod 4 Analysis (1)
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Analysis and Introduction
Draven Cooper
Department of Mathematics: Southern New Hampshire University
MAT-133: Intro to Statistical Analysis
Instructor Malloy
DEC 2023
Introduction
The research study, “Partnership After Prison: Couple Relationships During Reentry”
follows
the trends and personal reports from previously incarcerated individuals and their social
relationships following such. This study attempts to shed light on the difficulties and
responsibilities each individual has after incarceration and how this can affect their personal and
interpersonal relationships and ability to have cohesive families. The facts and statistics shown in
the article show a clear trend of hesitation and reservations toward publicity regarding their
personal relationships as well as a more negative view of close relationships as a whole. It dives
into the major differences regarding the social expectations in prison, and how vastly different
they vary from those in day-to-day life.
The group studied for this included 641 couples that included a formerly incarcerated individual,
ranging between 9-34 months post-release at the time of the study. Most of these individuals
came from either the states of Ohio or Indiana. It should be noted that because of this, further
study with individuals from larger population states, or southern states can have a large impact
on this social data, as each state has vastly different social practices in each community. The
research also touches on the education levels, monetary background, and other demographical
information of each interviewed individual, and how each mat affects the data set, as well.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), a division of the U.S. Department of Justice,
the recidivism rate for state prisoners released in 30 states in a study conducted in 2005 was
approximately 68% within three years of release. Often, individuals who spend most of their
lives on inside of the prison system find life after release so uncomfortable or different that they
re-offend in order to return to a more familiar setting due to reasons such as social stigma,
reintegration issues, and lack of rehabilitation services. This information is incredibly relevant in
parallel with the previously mentioned study, because individuals, including ones interviewed
and analyzed for this project, are so uncomfortable socially in their relationships outside of
prison, that they would rather return. Skills that contribute to survival in prison can inadvertently
render individuals suspicious or intimidating in the outside world. This research aims to
illuminate these challenges and examine the post-incarceration responsibilities of individuals,
exploring how these factors impact their personal and interpersonal relationships, as well as their
ability to foster cohesive families.
Analysis
The research uses a
data collection strategy that integrates both quantitative and qualitative
methods from the “Multi-Site Family Study on Incarceration, Parenting, and Partnering” or
MFS-IP. The MFS-IP used detailed interviews and many follow-up surveys over time to gather
detailed information on various facets of family and romantic life following prison. This study
specifically focuses on heterosexual couples where the male partner is the one incarcerated.
Baseline interviews were conducted around 2.5 years into the male partner's incarceration,
gaining information this way about life on the inside, as well as using the post-release interviews,
occurring around 5.6 months after release for the comparative data. The study involves 641
couples, where
both
partners completed baseline and first post-release interviews, and at least
one partner reported romantic involvement with their survey partner at baseline.
The quantitative data collected from baseline and first postrelease interviews. The study
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combines data across sites, with a majority from Ohio or Indiana, and includes both treatment
and comparison groups. Descriptive analyses compare relationship status and quality across
different time points. Matched pairs t-tests assess temporal differences, and multivariate logistic
regression explores factors predicting intimate relationship status postrelease. The model
incorporates various baseline factors, such as the duration of the relationship, happiness,
coparenting, contact during incarceration, marital status, communication skills, fidelity attitudes,
duration of the male partner's baseline incarceration, and satisfaction with staying in touch.
Control variables include program site and whether the male partner received relationship
education classes before the baseline interview.
In their interviews, the researchers would note a number of factors about the studied couples,
such as relationship status according to each party, and reported satisfaction or happiness with
said relationship. Often, there was a different answer regarding the status of the relationship from
each party. Incarcerated men were more likely to claim a serious relationship than their partners
on the outside, while after incarceration, it seemed to flip and they were often quieter or less
detailed about their relationships. As detailed in the following quote,
“
Family members have been described as the “front line”
of reentry, and returning prisoners are highly dependent on them for material, economic, and
emotional support (Bobbitt & Nelson,
2004
). This can place a heavy burden on partners who
want to welcome a loved one home but feel ill-equipped to meet the reentering person’s needs
(Cooke,
2005
; Hagan & Coleman,
2001
),” an average individual may not be prepared to be in
the position of being the source of their partners financial and emotional needs, both of which
may struggle heavily after experiences in the prison system. This causes tension and can cause
relationships to fall apart.
In order to gain qualitative data as well, 68 interviews with 62 participants take place on top of
the baseline and post-release interviews with the larger sum of couples. Transcripts of these
interviews are then analyzed using ATLAS.ti - which is an AI qualitative data analysis tool.
Deductive and inductive coding techniques are applied based on research questions, so that the
program may properly organize and analyze the data set. This would identify repetitions or
patterns in the data collected from each interview.
The quantitative analysis revealed a significant decrease in reported intimacy after release. Men
consistently perceived the relationship as more intimate both before and during incarceration,
with no significant differences after release than their female counterparts. But, relationship
quality and happiness ratings, showed a decrease after release for both genders. Men across the
board gave more positive ratings in all categories than their female partners, but the variance in
during and after is greater for men.
Men were less likely to report living with their partners after
release, women's reports did not change across time periods. There are many challenges during
the reentry period, and the data notes the difficulty of transitioning beyond coping strategies
developed during incarceration. Strategies proven effective in prison, such as maintaining
positivity and avoiding sensitive topics, became counterproductive post-release, contributing to
discomfort and relational challenges.
References
Megan Comfort, Kathleen E. Krieger, Justin Landwehr, Tasseli McKay, Christine H.
Lindquist, Rose Feinberg, Erin K. Kennedy & Anupa Bir (2018) Partnership after prison:
Couple relationships during reentry, Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 57:2, 188-205,
DOI: 10.1080/10509674.2018.1441208
Bobbitt, M., & Nelson, M. (2004).
The front line: Building programs that recognize
families’ role in reentry
. New York, NY: Vera Institute of Justice. Retrieved from
http://www.vera.org/pubs/front-line-building-programs-recognize-families-roles-reentry
[Google Scholar]
Cooke, C. L. (2005). Going home: Formerly incarcerated African American men return
to families and communities.
Journal of Family Nursing
,
11
(
4
), 388–404.
doi:10.1177/1074840705281753
[Crossref]
[PubMed]
[Web of Science ®]
,
[Google
Scholar]
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