Prison Experiences and Psychological Distress among Older Inmates.
This study investigates relationships between older prisoners' social experiences and their levels of distress. One hundred and seventy-three older prisoners (aged ≥ 50 years) from 8 Australian prisons were administered the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) Scale, with additional information collected via individual interviews. Psychological distress scores were significantly associated with measures of self-reported safety (p < .001), prison victimization (p < .05), perceived social support from staff (p < .01) and inmates (p < .001), current employment (p < .05), and level of exercise (p < .001) among older inmates. Findings suggest that strategies for improving sense of safety, social support and level of exercise may ameliorate distress among older prisoners.
a Department of Social Work , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
Susan
S
Baidawi
a Department of Social Work , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
Christopher
C
Trotter
a Department of Social Work , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
Catherine
C
Flynn
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012449:Safety; D057566:Self Report; D012933:Social Identification; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*
aging prisoners; older prisoners; prison programs; psychological distress; victimization