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Exploratory Examination of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale Among Incarcerated Black and White Male Drug Users

NCJ Number
206514
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 403-413
Author(s)
Anita Fernander; John F. Wilson; Michele Staton; Carl Leukefeld
Date Published
August 2004
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Using two factors from a modified version of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), this study examined the relationship between "spirituality" (relationship with a higher power and satisfaction with oneself in the world) and criminality in a sample of 661 male Black and White inmates with prior histories of drug use.
Abstract
Study participants were selected from four Kentucky State Correctional facilities as part of a larger study that was examining health service use among incarcerated male substance users. The study was conducted between January 1998 and October 1999. The inmates selected were nearing the end of their sentence so as to allow for a 1-year postrelease interview. Interviews with the inmates included administration of the SWBS. The SWBS assesses two components of spirituality: a connection to a higher power and a sense of purpose and meaning in life experiences. Data on demographic variables encompassed age, ethnicity, marital status, employment status prior to incarceration, and rural or urban home base. Substance use was assessed with an ordinal scale adapted for use with the substance abuse module of the Addiction Severity Index. Incarceration history was also determined. Because of missing values, 631 inmates were finally included in the analyses. To test the hypothesis that Black and White incarcerated adult men would differentially endorse items of the SWBS, the analysis examined the impact of ethnicity on the two factors from the SWBS, controlling for age and educational level. The analyses found that ethnicity was a significant factor in determining an individual's relationship with a higher power and satisfaction with oneself in the world. Whites reported a significantly higher number of incarcerations as an adult and admitted committing more property offenses, possession offenses, and alcohol offenses than Blacks; whereas, Blacks reported committing significantly more trafficking, weapons offenses, and violence offenses than Whites. White men reported significantly higher scores on a relationship with a higher power and greater satisfaction with themselves in the world. The effect size for the relationship with a higher power was greater than satisfaction with oneself in the world, with the mean for the White men exceeding one standard deviation above the mean of Black men. These findings were unexpected, given the extensive literature that has reported spirituality to be a significant attribute among individuals of African descent. These findings suggest that incorporating spiritual coping skills into drug treatment programs as well as delinquency prevention programs may be more useful in reducing the number of drug users and related crimes committed by Black men than White men. The specific aspects of spirituality that are inversely associated with criminal behavior among Black and White men require further study. 5 tables and 48 references