Children's victimization and substance use after parental imprisonment: A path analysis

Parental imprisonment has been identified as a contributing factor to various adverse outcomes for children. While numerous studies have examined its direct effect on children's substance use, less research has focused on the mechanisms through which parental imprisonment may indirectly increase this risk. Drawing from general strain theory and routine activities theory, this longitudinal study investigates two potential mediators in the relationship between parental imprisonment and children's substance use: victimization and depression. Using longitudinal data from a national study on adolescents and adults in the United States, we conducted a mediation path analysis with a bootstrapping technique. The results revealed a significant indirect association between parental imprisonment and youth substance use, mediated by victimization, but only for other illicit drug use. The data did not support a sequential mediation path via victimization and depression. These findings highlight important policy implications for disrupting the pathway from parental imprisonment to adverse child outcomes.