Intensity of perceived stress and control of anger, anxiety and depression of people staying in Polish penitentiary institutions
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 16 August 2021
Issue publication date: 25 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to assess the intensity of perceived stress and measure the subjective control of anxiety, anger and depression in a group of women and men staying in Polish penitentiary institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was carried out in two penitentiary institutions located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship at the turn of 2019/2020. The study group consisted of 152 prisoners. In the cross-sectional study, two standardised research tools – the Perceived Stress Scale and the Emotional Control Scale – were used.
Findings
Over half of the prisoners (57.24%) presented a high level of stress. The intensity of the perceived stress did not depend on the gender and age of the convicted persons. The general indicator of emotional control among the respondents averaged 51.82 points (standard deviation = 14.52) and ranged from 22 to 83 points, which means that people detained in penitentiary institutions suppressed their negative emotions at an average level. The prisoners had the best control over fear (M = 18.68), less over anger (M = 16.86) and the least over depression (M = 16.27). Statistical analysis showed a correlation between the level of emotional control and the intensity of perceived stress.
Research limitations/implications
The small sample size of the group participating in the study and narrowing of the research area means that results can not be generalised across all isolated prison population.
Practical implications
The results obtained from the study can be used by a multidisciplinary team to develop therapeutic programmes for convicted persons, the aim of which is to evaluate strategies for coping with stress and controlling emotions.
Social implications
Popularising reliable information related to the issue of experiencing stress and varied emotions in those staying in penitentiary institutions may lead to the elimination of harmful stereotypes functioning in society, as well as reduce the phenomenon of marginalisation of prisoners, and thus contribute to the success of the social rehabilitation process.
Originality/value
Research on the level of stress intensity in prisoners is important because the rates of mental health disorders among prisoners consistently exceed the rates of such disorders in the general population.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank all people staying in Polish penitentiary institutions that participated in this study and the directors of the institutions who issued a permission to conduct the cross-sectional study. Authors are very grateful to service employees for devoting their time to help in conducting the research survey. Without their help this paper would not have been possible. Conflicting interests: The authors of this research article declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the study, authorship and/or publication of this paper.
Citation
Kołodziej, K., Kurowska, A. and Majda, A. (2022), "Intensity of perceived stress and control of anger, anxiety and depression of people staying in Polish penitentiary institutions", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 83-96. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-12-2020-0103
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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