Abstract

This study examines the impact of incarceration on families and how relationship dynamics shift throughout the process. While spouses of incarcerated individuals must navigate financial strain, stigma, role confusion, and emotional burdens, the family system as a whole moves through phases of crisis, disorganisation, recovery, and reorganisation. The study draws on the Double ABCX model, an extension of Hill’s Family Stress Theory, together with the dyadic coping perspective, as its theoretical framework. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews are being conducted with spouses of individuals who are currently incarcerated or who have recently been released and are on probation. The interviews address families' responses to stress, the coping mechanisms they employ, their sources of social support, and their adaptation processes over time. Data collection has been approved by the Koç University Ethics Committee and will be analyzed using thematic analysis. The paper presents the preliminary findings and key themes emerging from the ongoing interviews, and discusses their implications for family-support practices for families with incarcerated members, drawing on findings from Türkiye.

Biography

Leyla Yarar is a PhD candidate in the Clinical Sciences track of the Psychology Program at Koç University, Türkiye. She holds an MA in clinical psychology and a BA in psychology. She is currently preparing her doctoral thesis entitled "The Impact of Incarceration on Families' Relationship Dynamics" under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Gizem Erdem. She also continues her work at the Risk Resilience & Relationships Research Lab (3R) and the Mental Health Research and Practice Lab at Koç University