The stress of reentry for incarcerated individuals: The urgent need for social support

We all experience stress from time to time. It is a natural response to life experiences for everyone. Daily responsibilities, like family or work, or a difficult health diagnosis, or even more serious news can trigger stress.

One group identified in the literature as experiencing a high degree of stress is family members/supporters of individuals returning to their communities following incarceration.

Researchers Suzanne Grieb and colleagues, in a 2014 article about stress and community reentry after incarceration, discussed the difficult role of family members as supporters during an individual’s reentry. They acknowledged that incarceration and community reentry after incarceration has been studied extensively for individual and community health, but agreed that little attention has been given to the experiences of individuals who provide support to those in reentry.

“The role of incarceration, reentry, and recidivism—the so-called revolving door phenomenon—has been studied extensively regarding individual health and well-being, community health, and public health more generally. However, with the exception of spouses, children, mothers, and general family units of incarcerated individuals, little attention has been given to the experiences of individuals in those communities who are not directly experiencing incarceration and/or reentry but instead support those who are" the researchers declared. 

Families of returning citizens shoulder much of the support duties. Individuals in reentry rely heavily on family members for housing as well as financial and emotional support, and for assistance navigating employment.

Studies suggest that incarceration of a friend or relative was positively correlated with worse physical and mental health. Family members experience greater financial strain and anxiety with the individual’s release. 

Stress of supporting reentry.

In a series of focus group interviews, researchers Grieb and colleagues (2014) asked 39 community members to discuss their experiences supporting spouses/significant others during their reentry. Support of family members included employment-seeking support, transportation, providing money or material items, childcare, and talking/giving advice. 

Almost two-thirds (62%) found this supportive role to be stressful, one third had had in-person arguments or fights with the family member in reentry in the past month, and 10% of the participants had gotten into a physical altercation with this family member in the past month.

The reentry process created great stress for the family members. All participants described the challenges faced while providing support as “exhausting” or “draining.” The stress endured was understood by the participants to have a negative impact on their health and well-being.

One family member reported that the stress of supporting her family member caused her blood pressure to skyrocket and resulting in a slight stroke brought on by the extreme stress.

Coping with reentry stress.

Advice from researchers, bloggers, and mental health professionals tells us to exercise, reframe our thoughts so that we can relax our minds, write in a journal, watch a funny movie, laugh, or listen to music to de-stress. All these practices are worth trying, so that we find the release we’re looking for. But is it enough for those who are supporting returning citizens?

Participants in Grieb’s research (2014) reported the strategies they use to cope with the stress of supporting a family re-entering the community following incarceration. Some reported talking to friends, thinking by themselves, meditating, or breathing as a way to reduce stress. Some focused on the need to talk about their problems with others. 

Most participants reported the likelihood of holding stress in, “exploding,” and/or crying. Holding the stress in often lead participants to lash out on others. 

Others said they drank or used legal and illegal medications to cope with stress. “Stress causes me to drink. Stress causes me to do drugs…we can’t all afford to go talk to a counselor,” one participant said.

Supporting successful reentry.

Most participants in Grieb’s research talked about the lack of support available to them as they help their family member in reentry. “Not a single participant was able to name a program or support system available to the family members of individuals in reentry,” the researchers said. The formal support participants could think of were considered completely inadequate. 

With a background in educational psychology, special education, and social work, I’ve spent my entire career helping people from all walks of life manage their stress. In fact, recent research with nearly 1,000 mothers who are raising children with autism spectrum disorders – arguably one of the most stressed groups imaginable – shows that the best strategies for coping with stress and building resilience is social support. 

I wondered about the powerful effects of social support with family members who are supporting their loved ones’ reentry.

Participants in Grieb’s research expressed a strong desire for support programs that assist family members, citing the need for more meetings and “social support.” Counseling, couples therapy, help hotlines, classes on how to stop enabling family members, and the development of a national organization for family members of people incarcerated and/or in reentry were needs expressed by participants. 

An overwhelming number of participants expressed the desire for support groups from people with lived experience. 

What is social support?

Social support, sometimes called peer support, has been identified as the network of family and friends that you can turn to in time of need. Social support builds us up in times of stress and often gives us the strength to carry on, even thrive, during the difficult times in our lives. When you spend time with the people you care about, these relationships play a critical role in how you function in your day-to-day life, and they promote psychological resilience.

Informal support networks, which includes family, friends, and affinity groups of like-minded individuals, play an important role in helping reduce the effects of stress.

“It is important to consider acute and chronic stress in contextualizing the responses of participants, as their personal history and/or environmental stressors of the community likely weigh heavily on them, leaving them ill- equipped to adjust to new changes such as supporting a family member in reentry,” said Glieb and colleagues in their 2014 article.

Experts agree that positive coping strategies among different groups is associated with the presence of adequate social support. Finding comfort, strength, and guidance through social support networks contributes to resilience.

Findings from Glieb’s research demonstrate that “support services must be extended to community members indirectly affected by a family member’s incarceration, and community members, researchers, and policymakers must more critically examine the far-reaching impact that the U.S. criminal justice system has on community health and health disparities.” 

Get involved with peer reentry support.

Interested in learning more about becoming an effective peer support specialist? We equip you to serve current and formerly incarcerated individuals to promote wellbeing and flourishing in the community. Individuals completing their sentences and transitioning to the community are often facing significant challenges, and peer support provides assistance in navigating the system. Learn more here. 

Dr. LaBarbera is a professor, researcher, and published author. She regularly conducts research on stress, resilience, mental health and well-being, and her work has been featured in academic journals, blogs, and popular media. She is passionate about creating content that informs, inspires, and empowers individuals to achieve their greatest potential.