Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male Prisoners

Though theoretical perspectives suggest experiences of stigma and discrimination after release may be one pathway through which incarceration leads to poor mental health, little research considers the relationship between discrimination and mental health among former inmates. In this article, data f...

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Main Authors: Kristin Turney PhD, Hedwig Lee PhD, Megan Comfort PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2013-11-01
Series:American Journal of Men's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988313484056
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author Kristin Turney PhD
Hedwig Lee PhD
Megan Comfort PhD
author_facet Kristin Turney PhD
Hedwig Lee PhD
Megan Comfort PhD
author_sort Kristin Turney PhD
collection DOAJ
description Though theoretical perspectives suggest experiences of stigma and discrimination after release may be one pathway through which incarceration leads to poor mental health, little research considers the relationship between discrimination and mental health among former inmates. In this article, data from a sample of men recently released from prison to Oakland or San Francisco, California ( N = 172), are used to consider how criminal record discrimination and racial/ethnic discrimination are independently and cumulatively associated with psychological distress. Results indicate that (a) the frequency of criminal record discrimination and racial/ethnic discrimination are similar; (b) both forms of discrimination are independently, negatively associated with psychological distress; and (c) the level of racial/ethnic discrimination does not alter the association between criminal record discrimination and psychological distress. The results highlight that criminal record discrimination is an important social stressor with negative implications for the mental health of previously incarcerated individuals.
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spelling doaj.art-54c3c95d892842389c91ad494b1cc2152022-12-22T01:09:05ZengSAGE PublishingAmerican Journal of Men's Health1557-98831557-98912013-11-01710.1177/1557988313484056Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male PrisonersKristin Turney PhD0Hedwig Lee PhD1Megan Comfort PhD2University of California, Irvine, CA, USAUniversity of Washington, Seattle, WA, USARTI International, San Francisco, CA, USAThough theoretical perspectives suggest experiences of stigma and discrimination after release may be one pathway through which incarceration leads to poor mental health, little research considers the relationship between discrimination and mental health among former inmates. In this article, data from a sample of men recently released from prison to Oakland or San Francisco, California ( N = 172), are used to consider how criminal record discrimination and racial/ethnic discrimination are independently and cumulatively associated with psychological distress. Results indicate that (a) the frequency of criminal record discrimination and racial/ethnic discrimination are similar; (b) both forms of discrimination are independently, negatively associated with psychological distress; and (c) the level of racial/ethnic discrimination does not alter the association between criminal record discrimination and psychological distress. The results highlight that criminal record discrimination is an important social stressor with negative implications for the mental health of previously incarcerated individuals.https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988313484056
spellingShingle Kristin Turney PhD
Hedwig Lee PhD
Megan Comfort PhD
Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male Prisoners
American Journal of Men's Health
title Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male Prisoners
title_full Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male Prisoners
title_fullStr Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male Prisoners
title_full_unstemmed Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male Prisoners
title_short Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Recently Released Male Prisoners
title_sort discrimination and psychological distress among recently released male prisoners
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988313484056
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