The Influence of Familial Social Support on Physical Health During Reentry

Recent sociological research has turned attention to the effects social support has on one’s overall health. However, the literature lacks specificity on how social interactions may be beneficial or detrimental to reentering citizens’ physical health. In addition, much of this literature does not examine the potentially damaging effects of negative familial interactions. From both a correctional and public health standpoint, elaborating on the impact social support and negative interactions with family have on returning prisoners is crucial to understanding positive reentry outcomes. Using three waves of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) data set and a repeated measures ordinary least squares (OLS) model with a lagged dependent variable, this study examines how levels of and changes in family social support and negative interactions affect post-release physical health over time (n = 2,435). The results suggest that social support has important repercussions on one’s physical health and thus success at reintegration.