Objectives: I extend the life-course theory of cumulative disadvantage to focus on continuity in punishment across generations. Specifically, I examine (1) the association between paternal incarceration and elementary school suspension or expulsion and (2) the extent to which behavior problems and weakened social bonds explain this association. Method: Analyses rely on logistic regression, propensity score matching, and mediation methods with data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 3,201), a birth cohort of children born in large U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000. Results: The odds of school punishment among children who had a residential father incarcerated by age 5 are 75 percent greater than the odds for children in a matched control group. About one third of this association is accounted for by behavior problems and weakened social bonds. Even after accounting for behavior problems and social bonds, children whose fathers were incarcerated are at greater risk of school punishment. Conclusions: I find evidence of an intergenerational stability of punishment and mixed support for an intergenerational extension to cumulative disadvantage theory. Paternal incarceration is associated with children’s likelihood of experiencing formal punishment in elementary school, and behavior problems and weakened social bonds explain part of this association.

中文翻译：

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惩罚的代际稳定性：父亲的监禁和小学停学或开除


目标：我扩展了累积劣势的生命历程理论，重点关注代际间惩罚的连续性。具体来说，我研究了（1）父亲监禁与小学停学或开除之间的关联，以及（2）行为问题和社会纽带减弱在多大程度上解释了这种关联。方法：分析依靠逻辑回归、倾向得分匹配和中介方法，数据来自脆弱家庭和儿童福祉研究 (N = 3,201)，该研究是 1998 年至 2000 年间在美国大城市出生的儿童的出生队列。 5 岁时，有寄宿父亲入狱的孩子在学校受到惩罚的几率比匹配对照组的孩子高出 75%。这种关联的大约三分之一是由行为问题和社会纽带减弱造成的。即使考虑到行为问题和社会纽带，父亲被监禁的孩子也面临更大的学校惩罚风险。结论：我发现了惩罚具有代际稳定性的证据，以及对累积劣势理论代际扩展的不同支持。父亲的监禁与儿童在小学遭受正式惩罚的可能性有关，行为问题和社会纽带减弱可以部分解释这种关联。