NCJ Number
172107
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 25 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (1997) Pages: 105-121
Date Published
1997
Length
17 pages
Annotation
One hundred sixty-two inmates at a maximum-security State prison in New York completed questionnaires on which they rated lists of recent life events in terms of their stressfulness and noted which events they had experienced within the last year.
Abstract
The list of life events was adapted to the prison situation from the original Schedule of Recent Life Events developed by Holmes and Rahe and included non-prison events, events specific to prison life, and negative events from both general and prison life. The inmates also completed standard instruments that measured self-esteem and depression. Results revealed significant positive relationships between the clusters of life events and indicators of psychological well-being. Findings were mixed in that the clusters of life events were significantly and positively related to depression, but did not have significant inverse relationships with self-esteem. Inmates' adaptation to prison after a time may explain these mixed findings. Further research across institutions and with different clusters of events is recommended. Tables, appended list of prison-specific events, and 31 references (Author abstract modified)