Maintaining Marriage Behind the Prison: A Qualitative Study Through Incarcerated Husband Perception

Abstract

The relationship between husband and wife is an essential thing in marriage. However, there is a special circumstances that have significant effect in marriage, such as imprisonment. The relationship will face many quandaries. This study explores the perception of prisoners toward their marriage and the efforts to maintain the marriage. Using qualitative study and thematic analysis, about 10 incarcerated husband were interviewed used Focus Group Discussion. The results emerged three main themes, namely (1) the negative impacts of imprisonment for family, (2) the challenges of husband-wife relationships and (3) making effort to maintain the husband-wife relationship. Explicitly, marriage commitment, acceptance of the wife, mutual trust, positive communication and support become the strong factors to maintain the marriage behind the prison. Furthermore, the results become important fundamental in developing the rehabilitation program for marriage prisoners and their incarcerated families' community.