Visitation and quality of life among older adults in jail
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 16 December 2021
Issue publication date: 2 June 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper aims to examine differences in measures of and relationships between visitation and quality of life (QOL) among older and younger jailed adults. The authors also explored the contribution of visitation to QOL among adults in this setting. The authors anticipated fewer visits and lower QOL among older adults. Framed by psychosocial developmental theory, the authors also anticipated a larger effect in the relationship between visitation and QOL among older rather than younger adults and that visitation would contribute most readily to psychological QOL.
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional data from a large US jail were used (n = 264). The authors described the sample regarding visitation and QOL measures among older (≥45) and younger adults (≤44) and examined differences in measures of and relationships between visitation and QOL using independent sample t-tests and bivariate analyses. The authors explored the contribution of visitation to psychological, social relationships, physical and environmental QOL among jailed adults using hierarchical multiple linear regression.
Findings
Older adults had fewer family visits and lower physical QOL than younger adults, disparities were moderate in effect (d range = 0.33–0.35). A significant difference also emerged between groups regarding the visitation and environmental QOL relationship (z = 1.66, p <0.05). Visitation contributed to variation in physical and social relationships QOL among jailed adults (Beta range = 0.19–0.24).
Originality/value
Limited research exists among jailed older adults and scholars have yet to examine the relationship between visitation and QOL among persons in these settings.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the persons who were incarcerated who were willing to participate in this project. Without their insights, this effort would not have been possible.
Citation
Prost, S.G. and Novisky, M.A. (2022), "Visitation and quality of life among older adults in jail", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 149-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-06-2021-0058
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited