| Sumario: | Children with incarcerated parents may be at higher risk than other children for developing behavioural problems and poor mental health. This systematic review addresses the effect of interventions for incarcerated parents and/or their children. We included 22 studies. All the included studies were conducted in the USA. They examined three types of interventions: Parenting interventions, prison nurseries, and support groups for children. Only one study evaluated interventions directed at children with incarcerated parents. The main findings of the report are that it is uncertain whether parenting interventions and prison nurseries have an effect on parenting attitudes and behaviour. It is also uncertain whether parenting interventions, prison nurseries, and support groups for children have an effect on children's emotional and behavioural problems. The uncertainty is a result of the interventions having insufficient evidence to allow firm conclusions. However, while we cannot draw firm conclusions about effect, this does not mean that the interventions do not have an effect. The studies demonstrated some positive results. For example, parents who received parenting interventions had improved knowledge about child-rearing as well as acceptance and empathy for their children. This systematic review shows that there is a need for more research on the effect of interventions for incarcerated parents and their children. Particularly, there is a lack of effect studies on interventions directed at children with incarcerated parents. Furthermore, there is a lack of effect studies on incarcerated parents and their children conducted in a Nordic setting.
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