The impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocol
Abstract Background Prison sentences are a particular type of penalty that aim to reintegrate individuals into society. Nonetheless, research suggests that prison sentences have a null or a criminogenic effect on recidivism and a critical impact on inmates’ mental health, negatively interfering with...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01252-w |
| _version_ | 1827890208839827456 |
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| author | Olga Cunha Andreia de Castro Rodrigues Sónia Caridade Ana Rita Dias Telma Catarina Almeida Ana Rita Cruz Maria Manuela Peixoto |
| author_facet | Olga Cunha Andreia de Castro Rodrigues Sónia Caridade Ana Rita Dias Telma Catarina Almeida Ana Rita Cruz Maria Manuela Peixoto |
| author_sort | Olga Cunha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Prison sentences are a particular type of penalty that aim to reintegrate individuals into society. Nonetheless, research suggests that prison sentences have a null or a criminogenic effect on recidivism and a critical impact on inmates’ mental health, negatively interfering with their successful reintegration into society and recidivism. Prevalence rates of mental health disorders among individuals who commit crimes are high, but little is known about how incarceration perpetuates and/or worsens mental health symptoms. In the Portuguese context, no studies focused on understanding the impact of imprisonment on prisoners’ mental health. Thus, this project aims to understand incarceration’s mental health and well-being impact on male and female individuals convicted to prison, both while incarcerated and after release. Methods The study will follow a quantitative cross-sectional design of male and female individuals in prison and parole, aiming to assess different samples at different moments of the prison sentence. It will also follow a longitudinal design in a subsample of male and female individuals sentenced to prison and on parole who will be followed for one year. Discussion This study intends to have a meaningful impact on the understanding of imprisonment effects, giving important clues for developing and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies to address prisoners’ and ex-prisoners’ mental health and improve their ability to successfully reintegrate into society and reduce recidivism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:06:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8c8afa2836142e8b62bdd4efda9514a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:06:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8c8afa2836142e8b62bdd4efda9514a2023-07-30T11:27:31ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832023-07-011111610.1186/s40359-023-01252-wThe impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocolOlga Cunha0Andreia de Castro Rodrigues1Sónia Caridade2Ana Rita Dias3Telma Catarina Almeida4Ana Rita Cruz5Maria Manuela Peixoto6HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lusófona UniversityWilliam James Center for Research, ISPA – Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas, Sociais e da VidaResearch Center of Psychology, School of Psychology, Minho UniversityHEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lusófona UniversityEgas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, LabPSI – Laboratório de Psicologia Egas MonizHEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lusófona UniversityCenter for Psychology at University of PortoAbstract Background Prison sentences are a particular type of penalty that aim to reintegrate individuals into society. Nonetheless, research suggests that prison sentences have a null or a criminogenic effect on recidivism and a critical impact on inmates’ mental health, negatively interfering with their successful reintegration into society and recidivism. Prevalence rates of mental health disorders among individuals who commit crimes are high, but little is known about how incarceration perpetuates and/or worsens mental health symptoms. In the Portuguese context, no studies focused on understanding the impact of imprisonment on prisoners’ mental health. Thus, this project aims to understand incarceration’s mental health and well-being impact on male and female individuals convicted to prison, both while incarcerated and after release. Methods The study will follow a quantitative cross-sectional design of male and female individuals in prison and parole, aiming to assess different samples at different moments of the prison sentence. It will also follow a longitudinal design in a subsample of male and female individuals sentenced to prison and on parole who will be followed for one year. Discussion This study intends to have a meaningful impact on the understanding of imprisonment effects, giving important clues for developing and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies to address prisoners’ and ex-prisoners’ mental health and improve their ability to successfully reintegrate into society and reduce recidivism.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01252-wMental healthPrisonConditional releaseSocial reintegration |
| spellingShingle | Olga Cunha Andreia de Castro Rodrigues Sónia Caridade Ana Rita Dias Telma Catarina Almeida Ana Rita Cruz Maria Manuela Peixoto The impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocol BMC Psychology Mental health Prison Conditional release Social reintegration |
| title | The impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocol |
| title_full | The impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocol |
| title_fullStr | The impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocol |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocol |
| title_short | The impact of imprisonment on individuals’ mental health and society reintegration: study protocol |
| title_sort | impact of imprisonment on individuals mental health and society reintegration study protocol |
| topic | Mental health Prison Conditional release Social reintegration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01252-w |
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