Mental Health Status of Correctional Officers in Correctional Institutions / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to measure the current mental health status of correctional officers by using various assessment instruments. The results of the study could help establish appropriate mental health-related solutions and policies for the officers. METHODS: The study enrolled 2571 correctional officers from 50 correctional facilities in South Korea in 2011. They were asked to answer or rate their occupational experiences within various investigative inventories and scales including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), the Job Satisfaction Scale by Davison and Cooper, the Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). RESULTS: Based on MBI results, the burnout score of the correctional officers was higher than that of the other occupations. Using the KOSS data, the average occupational stress of the correctional officer was higher than that of the other occupations. The officers' average job satisfaction score was lower than that of the other occupations. The average depression level of the correctional officers derived from K-BDI data was 9.36. The average RSE score of correctional officers was lower than that for the other occupations. CONCLUSION: This research revealed that the mental health status of correctional officers is poorer than that for other occupations. This finding emphasizes the need for a system to regularly assess the mental health status of correctional officers and to find solutions that can improve their mental health status.

Mental Health Status of Prisoners in Correctional Institutions / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify mental health state of prisoners in correctional institutions and to develop strategies for improvement of the environment related to it. METHODS: This research included a total of 1700 inmates from three out of 50 prisons nationwide; Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Korean Version of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, and cut down, annoy, guilty, eye-opener were applied. Additional questionnaires were employed for investigation of inmates' experience of violence within the correctional facilities and to examine utilization of mental health service before and after their admission to correctional facilities. RESULTS: Fifteen percent of the participants attained SCL-90-R T-scores of 65 or higher, which suggested that these individuals had, or were at great risk of, mental illness. As the level of anger felt by the prisoners turned out to be lower than expected, BDI scores of 22 and higher were observed in 28.1% of the inmates, and 33.6% of the prisoners had suicidal ideation. In addition, 39.1% of the total inmates were diagnosed with alcohol abuse. Twenty-one percent of the prisoners were victimized in their correctional institutions; therefore, violence may be one of the potential factors leading to stress. However, only a small percentage of the inmates requested and received counseling as a help. CONCLUSION: Mental health state among prisoners was serious and undesirable. This finding emphasizes the dire need for a system for regular assessment and improvement.

Factores de riesgo asociados a la delincuencia masculina en México: un estudio a reclusos de un centro de readaptación social varonil / Fatores de risco associados à criminalidade masculina no México: um estudo para os presos de um centro de reabilitação social varonil / Risk factors associated with male delinquency in Mexico: a study among inmates in a social male re-adaptation center

Se realizó un estudio transversal, descriptivo y correlacional, cuyo propósito fue analizar los niveles de violencia intrafamiliar, el consumo de alcohol y la sintomatología depresiva en un grupo de internos de un centro de readaptación social, así como determinar la relación de estas variables con el tipo de delito cometido. Se seleccionó una muestra no probabilística de 385 hombres, que se encontraban internos en un centro de readaptación social en México; el mayor porcentaje de ellos tenían entre 18 y 30 años de edad. Se utilizó un instrumento que evaluó: el consumo de alcohol, en cuanto a frecuencia y cantidad (indicadores de la Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones); la sintomatología depresiva (Cédula del Centro de Estudios Epidemiológicos, CES-D) y la violencia intrafamiliar (agresión verbal, agresión física, humillación y respeto). Los resultados mostraron que el 75,6% de los internos habían cometido robo y que más de la mitad aún se encontraban en proceso de recibir su sentencia. Respecto a los niveles de violencia intrafamiliar y el consumo de alcohol, el mayor porcentaje de los internos reportó niveles bajos (81,8 y 49,5%, respectivamente). Sin embargo, en niveles de depresión, el 50% presentó niveles altos. Se encontró un mayor número de internos que habían cometido secuestro con violencia intrafamiliar severa; se detectó un mayor porcentaje de ellos que habían cometido homicidio, con consumo severo de alcohol, y respecto a la sintomatología depresiva, se halló, en este grupo, una mayor cantidad con niveles severos, que reportaron haber cometido violaciones

A transversal, descriptive and correlational study was carried out for the purpose of analyzing domestic violence, alcohol consumption, and depressive symptomatology in a group of inmates in a social re-adaptation center, and to determine as well the relationship between these variables and the type of crimes committed. A non-probabilistic sample of 385 men confined in a social re-adaptation center in Mexico was selected, of which the highest percentage consisted of males between 18 and 30 years of age.An instrument was used to assess: alcohol consumption in terms of frequency and amount (indicators of the National Addiction Survey); depressive symptomatology (Scale of the Epidemiological Study Center CES-D), and domestic violence (verbal aggression, physical aggression, humiliation, and disrespect). The results showed that 75.6% of the inmates had committed theft, and more than half of them were still awaiting sentencing. With respect to domestic violence and alcohol consumption, the highest percentage of inmates reported low volumes (81.8 and 49.5%, respectively). Nevertheless, in depression situations, 50% exhibited high levels. It was found that a larger number of inmates with a history of intense domestic violence had committed kidnappings, and a higher percentage of those with a heavy consumption of alcohol were charged with murder or manslaughter. As per those with high depressive symptomatology rates, most of them reported having committed rapes

Um estudo transversal, descritivo e de correlação foi realizado. O objetivo foi analisar os níveis de violência doméstica, o consumo de álcool e os sintomas da depressão em um grupo de prisioneiros de um centro de reabilitação social, bem como a determinação da relação destas variáveis com o tipo de crime cometido. Uma amostra não probabilística de 385 homens foi selecionada. Os homens ficavam presos em um centro de reabilitação social no México; a maior percentagem deles tinham entre 18 e 30 anos de idade. Nós usamos um instrumento que avaliou: o consumo de álcool, em termos de frequência e quantidade (indicadores da Escola Nacional de Vícios); sintomas depressivos (Cédula do Centro de Estudos Epidemiológicos, CES-D) e violência doméstica (agressão verbal, agressão física, humilhação e respeito). Os resultados mostraram que 75,6 % dos detentos havia cometido roubo e que mais da metade estavam ainda em processo de receber sua sentença. Com relação aos níveis de violência doméstica e o consumo de álcool, a maior percentagem de detidos reportou níveis baixos (81,8 e 49,5%, respectivamente). No entanto, nos níveis de depressão, o 50% apresentou níveis elevados. Encontramos um maior número de presos que cometeram rapto com violência doméstica severa; uma percentagem mais elevada daqueles que tinham cometido assassinato foi detectada, com consumo de álcool grave e sintomas depressivos. A maioria neste grupo apresentava níveis graves, que relatou ter cometido estupro

The Job Satisfaction and the Turnover Intention of Dietitians Working at Foodservice of the Correctional Institutions in Korea / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study is to investigate how certain factors influence job satisfaction and turnover intention of the dietitians working at the correctional institutions. A total 47 sheets of questionnaires (complete enumeration) were distributed respectively to the dietitians during the period from March 20th to May 18th of 2008. A total of 38 questionnaires (response rate 81%) were analyzed by using SPSS (ver. 19.0). The dietitians were more satisfied with coworkers (3.63 +/- 0.10) and supervision (3.19 +/- 0.13) than with pay (2.97 +/- 0.09) and promotion (2.55 +/- 0.08). Among the job burnout dimensions, cynicism (2.58 +/- 0.09) was rated higher than exhaustion (2.47 +/- 0.10), while professional efficacy level (3.40 +/- 0.08) was relatively high. The work dimension of job satisfaction was negatively correlated with exhaustion and cynicism dimensions of job burnout (p < 0.001), and turnover intention (p < 0.01), but positively correlated with professional efficacy dimension (p < 0.001). The co-worker dimension was negatively correlated with exhaustion and cynicism (p < 0.05) and turnover intention (p < 0.01), while the supervision, the pay, and the promotion dimension were not correlated with the job burnout and turnover intention. The turnover intention was positively correlated with exhaustion and cynicism dimensions of job burnout (p < 0.001). A stepwise regression analysis revealed that i) professional efficacy was a factor to significantly increase the work dimension of job satisfaction, ii) exhaustion and cynicism to significantly decrease the work and the co-worker dimension of job satisfaction, respectively, and iii) exhaustion to significantly increase turnover intention. The managerial efforts of the institutions could be focused on the job burnout factors to effectively increase the work dimension and the co-worker dimension of the job satisfaction.

Food Sanitation Management at Foodservice of Correctional Institutions in Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the equipment ratio of sanitary facility/equipment as well as the sanitary management performance level at foodservice of correctional institutions in Korea. For this purpose, a total of 47 questionnaires were distributed to dietitians working at correctional institutions during the period from March 20th to May 18th of 2008. A total of 38 questionnaires (response rate 81%) was analyzed using SPSS (windows ver. 14.0). The majority of the respondents were females (65.8%), 35 years or older (55.3%), with 7 years or longer experiences (65.8%), and with education level of university or higher (60.5%). Among the institutions, 39.5% had less than 500, 28.9% had 501 or more but less than 1,200, and 31.6% had 1,201 or more inmates. The equipment ratio of the sanitary facilities/equipment was 49.7%, which was relatively low. Most dietitians perceived 'limited availability of facilities and equipment' and 'the lack of support from financing department' as the major barriers in implementing a desirable sanitary system. On the other hand, perceived sanitary management performance was rated by the respondents as being between 2.55 to 4.50 (5-point Likert scale)-'Cleaning hands properly as specified' showed the lowest performance, whereas 'Sampling preserved meals by standard methodology' showed the highest. The results of this study suggest that a sanitary education program designed for inmate food handlers is needed for successful sanitary management.

The Characteristics of Suicide Attempts and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Correctional Institutions / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Suicide is one of the most common causes of deaths in correctional institutions. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of suicide attempts and its related psycho-social factors in correctional institutions. METHODS: This study examined the characteristics of 101 suicide attempts from 2006 to 2007 in the two regional correctional headquarters. Thirty-seven male inmates (43 suicide attempts) and 40 matched controls were included in interviews and reviews of personal records. Psychiatric illnesses were examined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and medical outcomes of their suicide attempts with the Lethality Scale of Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies. RESULTS: Over a half of suicide attempts occurred in solitary cells and the most common method was hanging. Medically, 70% of the suicide attempts were more than severe. Poor social support, a lifetime history of suicide attempts, and incarceration were associated with suicide attempts. Additionally, psychiatric illnesses were more likely to increase the risk of suicide. CONCLUSION: This study implies that mental health issues and monitoring systems are important to reduce suicides in the correctional system. Regular checks and management of suicide risk and mental illness are crucial to prevent suicide in correctional institutions.