Gender differences in distress: mental health consequences of environmental stress among jail inmates

Abstract

The present study examines the influence of gender and environmental stress on the mental health of a sample of 198 male and female jail inmates. Environmental stress is conceptualized as the degree of congruence between inmates' demand and the jail's supply of several environmental features. A state of incongruence was hypothesized to increase the mental distress of jail inmates. In addition, it was hypothesized that female inmates would have higher levels of distress than male inmates, with environmental stress as a possible explanation for gender differences in distress. Female inmates were found to have significantly higher levels of mental distress than males. However, environmental stress was found to be equally detrimental to the mental health of both male and female inmates. Thus, although congruence between environmental demand and supply is a significant predictor of mental health, it is not an explanation for the alarmingly high levels of mental distress found among female inmates. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Prevalence of Depression in Port Harcourt Prison

“…In another study the rate of depression in the study was 30% (23-36%) among elderly inmates [32]. The prevalence in a French study was 17.9% [19] and was 7.9-15.2% in another study [29,35]. In a recent study in a maximum security prison in Jos, Nigeria, the prevalence rate was 30.8% 37 .…”

“…Females are reported to have higher morbidity and higher numbers of medical encounters [19]. The experience of incarceration also appears to influence the physical and mental health of inmates, as self-reported health problems increase with in-mates duration of incarceration [19].…”

The Influence of Prison Staff on Inmate Conditions: A Multilevel Approach to Staff and Inmate Surveys

“…Consequently, and according to importation theory, the influence of a prison on perceived prison conditions and inmate behaviour is rather small, or even absent. Over the past decades, several studies have confirmed the assumption that characteristics of inmates (their criminal history, identification with criminal values, attitudes towards the legal system, the age of inmates, prior incarcerations, the length of the current sentence, their race, and their gender) are important predictors of inmate perceptions of prison conditions and deviant behaviour (Bales et al 2005;Camp et al 2003;Gendreau et al 1997;Harer and Steffensmeier 1996;Lindquist and Lindquist 1997;Paterline and Petersen 1999;Spivak and Sharp 2008;Steiner 2009;Steiner and Wooldredge 2008;Wright 1991).…”

“…Sykes 1958). Several scholars refer to the importance of prison staff when achieving goals like safety, humane treatment and re-integration of inmates (Arnold et al 2008;Bilby 2008;Birgden 2004;Bottoms 1999;Hobbs and Dear 2000;Liebling 2000;Lindquist and Lindquist 1997;Peterson-Badali and Koegl 2002;Tewksbury and Mustaine 2008). Garland (1990) even argues that 'operatives' of the penal system (e.g.…”

Erkek Hükümlülerde Tekrar Suç İşlemeye İlişkin Risk Faktörlerinin Değerlendirilmesi

“…Bu bulgu literatürde olağan şekilde, evlilik içi şiddet (25,26), fiziksel saldırı, cinsel saldırı ve hırsızlık (27), maddeyle ilgili ve toplum düzenini bozma suçları esnasında failde alkol kullanım oranlarının yüksek olmasıyla (28) desteklenmektedir. Ayrıca madde kullanıyor olmak, maddeyi elde etmek üzere kaynak oluşturmaya yönelik suçlara da davetiye çıkarabilmektedir.…”