title: A longitudinal study of mental health symptoms in young prisoners: exploring the influence of personal factors and the correctional climate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the high prevalence rate of mental health problems among young prisoners, little is known about the longitudinal course and covariates of their mental health symptoms during incarceration, especially the influence of the correctional climate. The current study aimed: (1) to examine changes in young prisoners' mental health symptoms during incarceration, (2) to identify personal factors associated with their mental health symptoms and perceptions of the correctional climate, and (3) to test the incremental effect of perceptions of the correctional climate on mental health symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from a sample of 75 youths (aged 17 to 22 years) detained in a Portuguese young offender prison. Data were gathered 1, 3, and 6 months after their admission in this facility. Socio-demographic, clinical and criminological variables were collected. Mental health symptoms and perceptions of the correctional climate were assessed through self-report assessment tools. Linear and logistic (multi-level) regressions and tests for differences between means were performed to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, mental health symptoms marginally declined by the sixth month in prison. Prisoners with a history of mental health treatment were more likely to have increased symptoms. Higher levels of mental health symptoms were associated with a history of mental health treatment, remand status, and a lower educational level. Better perceptions of the correctional climate were associated with Black race and participation in prison activities. A negative perception of the correctional climate was the strongest covariate of young prisoners' mental health symptoms and had incremental validity over that of personal variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results highlight that both characteristics of the prisoners and of the prison environment influence young prisoners' mental health. Prison management can try to reduce young prisoners' mental health problems by developing scientific procedures for their mental health assessment and creating a more beneficial correctional climate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Services, Office of Corrections, Canton of Zurich, Hohlstrasse 552, P.O. Box 8090, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Leonel C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Services, Office of Corrections, Canton of Zurich, Hohlstrasse 552, P.O. Box 8090, Zurich, Switzerland. Jerome.Endrass@uni-konstanz.de.|Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany. Jerome.Endrass@uni-konstanz.de.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endrass
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Services, Office of Corrections, Canton of Zurich, Hohlstrasse 552, P.O. Box 8090, Zurich, Switzerland.|Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossegger
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, 71304, 1008 BH, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anja J E
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dirkzwager
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Correctional climate; Longitudinal research; Mental health symptoms; Personal and environmental factors; Young prisoners