NCJ Number
148323
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 20 Issue: 3-4 Dated: (1994) Pages: 131-146
Date Published
1994
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between maladaptation and the environmental preferences of 33 male prison inmates in New York who had engaged in deliberate, nonfatal self-harm at an earlier time in their current incarceration.
Abstract
The participants had an average age of 29.18 years. More than two-thirds were currently incarcerated for violent offenses. They completed the Prison Preference Inventory to measure their environmental preferences in areas such as freedom, activity, support, social stimulation, privacy, emotional feedback, structure, and safety. In addition, several current adaptation measures were measured, including depression, anxiety, anger, hopelessness, suicidality, and life quality and satisfaction. Information on disciplinary violations and overall adjustment were collected from records. A global adaptation measure was created from all significantly associated measures, and inmates were divided into good and poor adapters. Results revealed that good and poor adapters had significantly different environmental preference profiles. Good adapters were more likely than poor adapters to prefer activity and social stimulation and less likely to prefer privacy and freedom. Contrary to conventional wisdom, prior psychiatric history did not differentiate the two groups. Tables, notes, and 27 references (Author abstract modified)