Original article
Coping style and distress in newly incarcerated male adolescents

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.09.005Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

To research relations between coping style and well-being in adolescent prisoners; previous research suggests that the stress of incarceration may be moderated by coping style in adult prisoners.

Methods

This research examined links between coping style and distress in 133 male adolescent prisoners on two occasions over a six-week period shortly after the commencement of their imprisonment.

Results

Anxiety and depression both declined over this period, with T1–T2 depression reduction negatively associated with T1 emotion-based coping and positively associated with T1 detachment. Emotion coping declined over the six weeks, whereas detachment coping increased. These changes were associated with improved depression and anxiety scores.

Conclusions

Detachment and low emotional expression may assist incarcerated adolescents to adapt more positively to the initial period of imprisonment, and prisoners may adopt these more effective coping styles over time. These findings are explained in terms of adaptation to stressors specific to the prison environment.

Section snippets

Methods

Participants were recruited over a two-month period by approaches made to all prisoners received by two medium-secure young offender institutions in England. Approaches were made individually by the recruiter (C.I.) in a private office. A Rota system was used whereby one visit per fortnight was made to each prison, ensuring that no prisoner was approached more than 14 days after incarceration. Participants completed measures of coping style and well-being at T1 and six weeks later at Time 2

Results

Independent samples t-tests were used to identify univariate T1 differences between prisoners who completed follow-up and those who dropped out. There were no differences for age, length of time in spent in prison before completing the T1 questionnaire, previous prison experience, coping styles, anxiety or depression. There was a greater proportion of remand prisoners in the dropout population (58.4% vs. 44.4%, χ2 (1) = 24.53, p < .01), reflecting their greater likelihood of transfer or

Discussion

We investigated relationships between coping style and well-being in a sample of adolescent prisoners. Consistent with studies on adult prisoners [5], significant decreases in both anxiety and depression were observed during the six weeks following incarceration. T1 detachment was positively and emotion coping inversely related to subsequent depression reduction. These findings are important because our prospective design, controlling T1 depression, allows firmer causal conclusions about the

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