Quality of Life in Jail: Gender, Correlates, and Drivers in a Carceral Space.

Quality of life (QOL) is an important area of exploration in U.S. corrections linked closely to well-being and an important indicator of intervention efficacy. Little is known of QOL in U.S. jails despite the admittance of over 10-million people to these settings every year. Research regarding the dimensions, correlates, and gender disparities in QOL in jails is important to shaping gender-responsive supports and reducing recidivism. Independent t tests and correlational and regression analyses were used to explore dimensions, correlates, and gender disparities in QOL among persons incarcerated in a large, southeastern jail (N = 299). All QOL domains were significantly related to overall QOL, and psychological QOL contributed most readily to respondent's overall QOL. Females, on average, reported lower QOL than males with significant differences between the groups in physical health and psychological domains. The importance of psychological QOL intervention and healthcare continuity are discussed.

Esuba: a psychoeducation group for incarcerated survivors of abuse.

This study examined the effects associated with a trauma and abuse-focused psychoeducation group for incarcerated women on decreasing trauma symptoms. A total of 320 women participated in 34 groups in five prisons that followed a manualized intervention. A one-group pretest-posttest design was used to examine changes on 10 Trauma Symptom Inventory subscales (Anxious Arousal, Depression, Anger/Irritability, Intrusive Experiences, Defensive Avoidance, Dissociation, Sexual Concerns, Dysfunctional Sexual Behavior, Impaired Self-Reference, and Tension Reduction Behavior). Analyses indicated significant improvement on all 10 trauma subscales. Small effect sizes were found on all of the subscales. The findings of this study are encouraging and are the first step toward more rigorous evaluation of this pilot program. These findings provide initial support for the use of group psychoeducation intervention to address traumatic stress symptoms with incarcerated women.

The impact of child abuse on dissociative symptoms:a study of incarcerated women.

One-hundred and ninety-two incarcerated women who were participating in a trauma and abuse psychoeducation program were evaluated for childhood abuse, maltreatment and current dissociative symptoms. The link between childhood abuse and adult criminal behavior has been well studied but the mental health status of adult female inmates and the possible implications for their treatment and behavior is the next step. The participants reported high levels of childhood abuse, 68% reported molestation, 72% rape, 26% emotional abuse, 51% physical abuse. Almost half of the participants reported a clinically significant level of dissociative symptoms. The dissociative group was found to have higher rates of sexual, emotional and physical abuse. They were younger and had shorter sentences. A logistic regression model was developed with only physical abuse being a predictor of clinically significant dissociative symptoms. Results are discussed in terms of how the high level of dissociative symptoms may impact future delinquency and corrections staff and possible future research.

A program analysis of Esuba: helping turn abuse around for inmates.

This investigation is an empirical evaluation of Esuba, an abuse awareness program implemented in the Florida correctional system. Research has indicated a link between violent and abusive behavior and criminal activity. This study specifically addressed whether the Esuba program had an impact on offenders' self-esteem, stability of self, faith in people, and sensitivity to criticism as measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The results from the application of the Esuba program to an incarcerated offender population are encouraging. The results suggest that the Esuba program does appear to significantly increase offenders' emotional self-preservation.