A Qualitative Study on Incarcerated Fathers’ Self-Reflection on Childhood Family Experiences and the Intergenerational Impact on Their Current Parenting Attitudes Through Expressive Letter Writing

Abstract

Childhood experiences significantly shape individual development and parenting attitudes, but there is a gap in understanding how parents who have faced adversity process these experiences. This study used secondary data from an 18-month letter exchange program targeting 14 incarcerated fathers in Hong Kong, investigated factors that disrupt this transmission. A qualitative analysis of 118 letters and 271 expressive writings revealed that these fathers actively engaged in self-reflection and adaptive coping strategies, addressing their own family-of-origin experiences. They acknowledged the influence of their upbringing on their parenting attitudes and expressed a conscious commitment to change. Our findings emphasize the importance of inner strengths and self-reflection in incarcerated fathers as they reflect on negative childhood experiences and cultivate healthier views of their parenting roles. The findings highlight the potential of expressive letter writing as an intervention to support incarcerated fathers in developing adaptive parenting strategies. Moreover, they highlight the importance of reflective parenting in breaking the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage and fostering positive parent–child relationships.