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Although written about US research, the findings can be used by professionals anywhere. This peer-reviewed study looks at the relationship between contact and parenting stress of 357 mothers in a maximum-security prison by using the parenting stress index for incarcerated women (PSI-IW; Houck & Loper, 2002). The study examined contact before imprisonment, the frequency of telephone, letter, and visitation contact during imprisonment, as well as stress related to attachment, parental competence, and visitation. The findings shows that mothers who were responsible for their child's care before imprisonment were more likely to write letters at least several times a week, speak with their child on the telephone at least once a week, and receive visits from their child at least four times a year. Results indicated that higher levels of contact between mothers and their children were associated with reduced levels of parenting stress. Letter writing in particular was associated with increased attachment and improved sense of parental competence.
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