Adults who are raised in a household with a jailed family member are at an increased risk for poor health in comparison to adults who do not have a family member in prison, according to a new study. The new research shows that having a jailed family member increases a child’s risk of adult health problems by 16 percent.

According to the findings, the country’s high rate of imprisonment could be leading to lasting physical and mental health difficulties in some families.

Anne Gjelsvik, assistant professor of epidemiology in the Brown University School of Public Health and lead author of the study published in the Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved, said in a statement, “These people were children when this happened, and it was a significant disruptive event.” She continued, “That disruptive event has long-term adverse consequences.”

Data for the study was gathered from more than 81,000 adults who responded to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, a standardized national health assessment. Individuals from 12 states and the District of Columbia provided responses between 2009 and 2010.

Researchers discovered that even with other potential childhood problems that could lead to poor health later in life, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, a household member with mental illness, or parents who became separated or divorced, there was still a 16 percent increased risk of developing health problems later in life for individuals with an incarcerated family member.

According to Find Youth Info, an incarcerated parent can negatively impact a child’s mental health, social behavior and educational prospects.