A Brief Relationship Education Pilot Intervention for Men Post Release

• Author: Patricia N. E. Roberson,Shannon Y. DeJesus,Sesen Negash,Eman Tadros
• DOI: 10.1177/00328855221095560
• Published date: 01 June 2022
• Date: 01 June 2022
• Subject Matter: Articles

A Brief Relationship

Education Pilot

Intervention for Men

Post Release

Sesen Negash

1

, Patricia N. E. Roberson

2

,

Eman Tadros

3

, and Shannon Y. DeJesus

1

Abstract

Romantic relationships are often fraught with challenges for individuals post-

release. Yet, few relationships-focused services are offered during this

important and complex transitional period. Using pre- and post-test survey

data, this pilot study of 63 men living in a residential substance treatment

facility post release evaluated the impact of a 20-h individual-oriented rela-

tionship education (RE) program (Within My Reach) on attitudes toward

intimate partner violence (IPV), sexist beliefs, attitudes toward inf‌idelity,

relational eff‌icacy, and relationship decision making. Results showed a signif‌i-

cant decrease in support of IPV at pre- and post-test even after controlling

for education, number of children, and relationship status.

Keywords

post-release, relationship education, intimate partner violence, inf‌idelity,

relational eff‌icacy

1

San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

2

University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA

3

Governors State University, University Park, IL, USA

Corresponding Author:

Eman Tadros, Governors State University Division of Psychology & Counseling, 1 University

Parkway, University Park, IL, 60484, USA.

Email: etadros@govst.edu

Article

The Prison Journal

2022, Vol. 102(3) 347–366

© 2022 SAGE Publications

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/00328855221095560

journals.sagepub.com/home/tpj

Introduction

Each year an estimated 600,000 individuals are released from prison (Carson

& Golinelli, 2013). Those in post-release often face considerable stressors and

cumulative adversity, including supervision restrictions, employment and

housing challenges, and relational strain (Turney, 2015; Weill, 2016). The

challenges and stress associated with reentry may help explain why 44%

are rearrested within a year of being released from incarceration (Bureau of

Justice Statistics, 2018). Among those challenges and stressors include

romantic relationships (Datchi et al., 2016; Datchi & Sexton, 2013).

Studies show high rates of relationship instability, conf‌lict, and intimate

partner violence (IPV) among couples post-release (McKay et al., 2018a).

At the same time, romantic relationships are linked to reduced criminal activ-

ity and recidivism among men (Wyse et al., 2014).

Despite the nuanced and often diff‌icult dyadic interactions that exist

between romantic partners post-release (Harman et al., 2007) and the link

between romantic dyads and decreased criminal activity, few formal services

have been adopted and researched at the regional, state, or national level to

support individuals seeking romantic relationships during post-release. We

conducted the current pilot study to address this def‌icit. Specif‌ically, we

examined changes in relationship attitudes and beliefs among men in post-

release who completed twenty-hour relationship education (RE) classes.

Findings from the study aimed to inform educators and policymakers about

the importance of extending RE programs to men post-release.

Relationships During Post-Release

To date, relationships during post-release have been scarcely studied.

Literature that is available on the subject points to how employment chal-

lenges, f‌inancial strain, substance abuse, conf‌lictual familial relationships,

societal stigma, and the trauma some experience in prison make it diff‌icult

to establish and maintain healthy romantic relationships (Berg & Huebner,

2011; Geller et al., 2011; McKay et al., 2018b). Consistent with this,

Comfort and Williams (2018) found that couples are signif‌icantly less

happy with their relationships post-release than during incarceration and

that men are less likely to be in relationships post-release. In the same

study, fears of inf‌idelity, poor relational coping, and exhaustion were also

commonly experienced among couples post-release.

Romantic relationships also pose some advantages to individuals post-

release. A sizable body of literature highlights the benef‌its of quality

marital and non-marital romantic relationships on reducing criminal activity

348 The Prison Journal 102(3)