title: A literature-based intervention for women prisoners: preliminary findings.
abstract: Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether Shared Reading (SR), a specific literature-based intervention, is transposable to a prison context and whether mental health benefits identified in other custodial and non-custodial settings were reported by women prisoners. Design/methodology/approach In all, 35 participants were recruited within an all-female maximum security prison and attended one of two weekly reading groups. Qualitative data were collected through researcher observation of the reading groups; interviews and focus group discussions with participants and prison staff; interviews with the project worker leading the reading groups; and a review of records kept by the latter during group sessions. Findings Attendance rates were good, with nearly half of the participants voluntarily present at =60 per cent of sessions. Two intrinsic psychological processes associated with the SR experience were provisionally identified, "memory and continuities" and "mentalisation", both of which have therapeutic implications for the treatment of conditions like depression and personality disorder. Research limitations/implications Limitations included the small sample, lack of control for confounding variables, and constraints imposed on data collection by the custodial setting. Originality/value Although more controlled research is required, the findings indicate that women prisoners will voluntarily engage with SR if given appropriate support, and that the intervention has potential to augment psychological processes that are associated with increased well-being.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society, University of Liverpool , Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Josie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billington
authors.affiliation: Psychosis Research Unit, Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Longden
authors.affiliation: School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool , Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008091:Literature; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons; D011932:Reading; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Correctional healthcare; Mentalization; Personality disorder; Psychological health; Reading therapy; Women prisoners