Parental incarceration has a significant impact on children's and adolescents' lives,
including emotional and mental well-being, which can carry to their adulthood. Although
parental incarceration has been researched, the lived experiences and mental health needs
of Latino children and adolescents of incarcerated parents have not been explored. The
purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the recollections of
young Latino adults about their lived experiences and mental health needs as children and
adolescents with incarcerated parents. Data were collected through semistructured
participant interviews with open-ended questions. Participants were 10 Latino young
adults who had experienced having at least one biological parent incarcerated when they
were younger. Data were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis
method to gain a better understanding of individuals' personal experiences and how they
interpret them in the context of their social and personal lives. Analysis of the data
revealed the following themes: (a) social and cultural adjustment, (b) mental health
struggles, and (c) behavioral struggles. The research findings help to fill a gap in the
literature regarding the experiences and mental health needs specific to Latino children
and adolescents with an incarcerated parent. These results may have implications for
positive social change by increasing awareness and improving the policies for growth and
development that help to improve support services for Latino young people.