Keywords
Psychological Well-Being
Persons Deprived of Liberty
How to Cite
Abstract
This study employed a quantitative, descriptive design to investigate the relationship between social adversity and psychological well-being among 300 incarcerated individuals in Sta. Municipal Jail, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines. Participants were randomly selected and completed questionnaires assessing social adversity using the Perceived Community and Social Adversity Questionnaire (PCSAQ) and psychological well-being using Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff & Keyes, 1995).Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The mean score for social adversity on the PCSAQ was 65.26, indicating a moderate overall level. Further breakdown revealed moderate levels of feeling controlled (M = 33.07) and social alienation/exclusion (M = 21.58). However, the mean score for weakness in social competition was notably low (M = 10.61). Similarly, the mean score for psychological well-being across all six dimensions of Ryff's scale was moderate (M = 81.02).These results suggest that while individuals deprived of liberty face significant social challenges, particularly related to feelings of control and social isolation, their psychological well-being is also impacted, albeit at a moderate level. The unexpectedly low score for social competition warrants further investigation. While the generalizability of the study may be limited by the use of a single facility, the findings highlight the importance of identifying the protective factors that contribute to maintaining a moderate level of well-being despite facing social adversity. Future research should explore these protective factors and the reasons behind the low social competition finding, to gain a deeper understanding of how to support the psychological well-being of this overlooked population.References
Cohen, S., Gottlieb, B. H., & Underwood, L. G. (2000). Social support measurement and intervention: A guide for health professionals. Oxford University Press. https://academic.oup.com/book/1041 (This book provides an overview of social support and its role in promoting well-being)
Evans, G. W., & English, K. B. (2002). The environment of poverty: Multiple stressors and the ecology of human development. Children and Youth Services Review, 24(1), 83-114.
Fazel, S., & Baillargeon, J. (2017). The prevalence and correlates of mental illness in incarcerated populations: A systematic review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(1), 1-24.
Fazel, S., & Baillargeon, J. (2017). The prevalence and correlates of mental illness in incarcerated populations: A systematic review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(1), 1-24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4182175/
Fazel, S., & Gillman, M. W. (2017). The age‐crime paradox and mental disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of longitudinal studies. Psychological Bulletin, 143(3), 548-580. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5334521/
Fazel, S., Hayes, A. J., & Baranyi, G. (2018). The prevalence of major depression in prisoners: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 726-738.
Freedman, D. S., & Wachs, T. D. (2009). The embodied self in custody: Stress, coping, and well-being in prison. Social Science & Medicine, 69(11), 1620-1628. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2788772/
Gendreau, P., & Andrews, D. A. (1990). Meta-analysis of the relationship between response to treatment and offender outcome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58(1),
Retrieved from: https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/tertiary- prevention-what-meta-analyses-offender-treatment
Keyes, C. L. M. (2013). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 32(3), 305-329.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12096700/ (This article explores the concept of psychological well-being as a continuum, encompassing both positive and negative aspects)
Masten, A. S. (2014). Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. American Psychologist, 69(1), 357.
Pietrzak, R. H., & Singh, A. A. (2009). The social context of depression: Risk factors and protective factors. Future Psychiatry, 4(4), 293-301.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6901847/ (This article discusses how social factors can contribute to or buffer the effects of depression)
Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(1), 130-141.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4241300/
Taylor, S. E. (2011). Social support and health. American Psychologist, 66(1), 394-401. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-12208-007 (This article reviews the research on social support as a protective factor against various stressors)
Turner, H. A., & Felitti, V. J. (2000). Sequelae of childhood sexual abuse in adulthood: The findings of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15(7), 702-716.
Williams, D. R., Yan, Y., Jackson, J. S., & Knight, G. P. (2013). Racial discrimination and health: Mediating and moderating processes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(3), 599-610. https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-129 (This article examines how racial discrimination can negatively impact mental health)
Zhang, Y., Ding, Y., & Liu, W. (2010). A Measure of Perceived Chronic Social Adversity: Development and Validation. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 45(4), 404-412. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.