Incarceration and Post-Release Health Behavior

Lauren Porter, Kent State University

This study investigates the link between incarceration and health behavior among a sample of young adults from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=12,784). Incarceration is associated with a higher expected rate of fast food consumption and a higher likelihood of cigarette smoking. These associations operate through a combination of financial, social, and psychological mechanisms. Given the role of health behavior in predicting future health outcomes, poor health behavior may be a salient force driving health and mortality risk among the formerly incarcerated population.