Attributional style and depressive symptoms in a male prison sample

O’Sullivan, Danny; O’Sullivan, Maura; O’Connell, Brendan D.; O’Reilly, Ken; Sarma, Kiran

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0190394

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Cross-sectionally, higher internality ratings for negative, hypothetical events were consistently associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (e.g., Ball et al, 2008;Martin, 1986), and individuals with a depressive disorder rated negative hypothetical events as more internally caused than individuals without (e.g., Mansfield & Wade, 2000;Power, 1987). These associations also remained when other variables such as education or anxiety were included as covariates (e.g., Martin, 1986;O'Sullivan et al, 2017;Persons & Rao, 1985). Although there were some exceptions (e.g., C. J.…”

Section: Hypothetical Event Studiesmentioning

confidence: 92%

The Relationship Between the Perception of Major Life Events and Depression in Adulthood: A Systematic Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis

Haehner¹,

Würtz²,

Kritzler³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Major life events can lead to depression in adulthood. However, as predicted by several depression theories (e.g., Hopelessness Theory of Depression), not only the mere occurrence of major life events but also the way people perceive them determines the onset of a depression. In this systematic review, we narratively summarized 276 studies (total N = 89,600) investigating the relationship between the perception of major life events and depression. Cross-sectionally, several perceived event characteristics such as globality, valence, impact, distress, and loss were consistently associated with depression. Furthermore, some perceived event characteristics such as a negative attributional style and event centrality predicted the onset of depression or changes in depressive symptoms over time. However, longitudinal studies on the relationship between perceived event characteristics and depression were scarce. In general, our review supports the relevance of the perceived event characteristics proposed in Hopelessness Theory of Depression (e.g., stability, internality, globality, and their composite scores) and other depression theories. However, further longitudinal research considering a range of different perceived event characteristics, using non-Western heterogeneous samples, and different retest intervals are needed to better understand the association between the perception of major life events and depression.

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Section: Hypothetical Event Studiesmentioning

confidence: 92%

The Relationship Between the Perception of Major Life Events and Depression in Adulthood: A Systematic Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis

Haehner¹,

Würtz²,

Kritzler³

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The results were consistent with attributional theory, which proposes that people tend to externalize the responsibility for negative events to protect their self-esteem ( 62 ). In fact, attributing negative life events to internal and uncontrollable factors has been associated with depressive symptoms in incarcerated individuals ( 63 ). The emphasis of external explanations for mental health problems in combination with attending to positive and controllable aspects of their everyday lives, can be viewed as adaptive cognitive reframing of a stressful situation by the participants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beliefs about mental health in incarcerated males: a qualitative interview study

Solbakken,

Bergvik,

Wynn

2023

Front. Psychiatry

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IntroductionBeliefs about mental health are shaped by the sociocultural context. Prisons have unique environmental and social features, and the prevalence of mental health problems in incarcerated populations is exceptionally high. These features make prisons especially interesting settings for exploring health beliefs. The aim of this study was to explore the conceptualizations of mental health and coping preferences in a prison environment.MethodsIndividual in-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen incarcerated males from three prisons in Northern Norway. The design draws on central elements from Grounded Theory.ResultsMental health was perceived as distinct from mental illness by many of the participants. They coped with the prison environment by focusing on the things that gave them a sense of meaning and autonomy – this also formed their conceptualization of mental health. Furthermore, social interaction and activities were perceived as important to enhance and maintain mental well-being, however there were institutional barriers to using these coping strategies. The prison environment was integrated in the participants conceptualizations of mental health problems, and psychosocial stressors were emphasized in causal attributions. Biological and dispositional factors were less frequently mentioned. The participants preferred non-medical management for mental health problems and most displayed a reserved attitude towards psychotropic medications. The exception was attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, for which they held neurobiological causal beliefs, together with a corresponding preference for medication as treatment.ConclusionThe main finding was a firm integration of the prison context in in the participants’ beliefs about mental health. We theorize that fusion of prison conditions and mental health beliefs were brought on by the processes of prisonization, observing mental distress in peers and attempts to protect self-esteem by externalizing the causes for mental health problems. Access to activities, social time, and “someone to talk to” were perceived to be crucial for improving and preserving mental health.

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“…As the number of prisoners has grown, the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among them has emerged as a significant public health concern [11][12][13]. Research conducted in Western countries has consistently demonstrated that incarcerated individuals experience higher rates of psychiatric disorders than the general population [13][14][15][16]. When the prevalence of depression among prisoners in developed and developing countries is compared, a significantly higher occurrence in developing countries can be found (39.2% versus 33.1%) [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceived anxiety and depression and associated factors among women inmates with a long-term sentence in Thailand

Sunpuwan,

Thaweesit,

Tangchonlatip

2024

PLoS ONE

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Background In Thailand, the growing prevalence of mental health problems among the increasing number of adult female prisoners has emerged as a significant public health concern. However, studies on the health of women prisoners are primarily conducted in Western societies, and studies in other countries are rare. Thailand, a non-western country, is no exception to this. Objectives The objectives of this study were to assess the current levels of anxiety and depression among women drug offenders in Thailand and to identify possible associated factors. Methods Data were collected from a sample consisting of 554 women drug offenders serving sentences of eight years or more. Stratified random sampling with proportionate stratification was employed during the data collection. The female inmates were being held in three categories of prisons: correctional institutions, central prisons, and provincial prisons. A single question was used to measure self-perceived levels of anxiety and depression: none, moderate, or substantial. Ordered logit regression was employed in the data analysis. Findings One out of five (21.1%) of the inmates in the sample reported no perceived current anxiety and depression, 61.7% reported moderate anxiety and depression, and 17.1% reported having substantial perceived levels of anxiety and depression. It was found that chronic health conditions or disease, concerns about economic status, and feelings of shame were associated with the perceived anxiety and depression reported by the inmates. Conclusion The study’s findings suggest that integrated mental health services that emphasize a holistic approach that acknowledges the intersectionality of women’s mental health and societal gender roles should be provided in prisons. Regular mental health screening and accessible mental health services are essential for all incarcerated women. Empowerment programs during confinement can boost self-esteem and thus lead to better post-release outcomes. The government should also implement programs to alleviate the financial burden on prisoners’ households.

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Attributional style and depressive symptoms in a male prison sample

Cited by 9 publications

References 52 publications

The Relationship Between the Perception of Major Life Events and Depression in Adulthood: A Systematic Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis

The Relationship Between the Perception of Major Life Events and Depression in Adulthood: A Systematic Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis

Beliefs about mental health in incarcerated males: a qualitative interview study

Perceived anxiety and depression and associated factors among women inmates with a long-term sentence in Thailand

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