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Inmate Emotion Coping and Psychological and Physical Well-Being: The Use of Crying Over Spilled Milk

NCJ Number
218438
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 34 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2007 Pages: 697-708
Author(s)
Frank Van Harreveld; Joop Van Der Pligt; Liesbeth Claassen; Wilco W. Van Dijk
Date Published
May 2007
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relation between emotions and physical and psychological well-being among inmates.
Abstract
The results indicate that psychological and physical health is closely related and that both can be influenced by the intensity of negative emotions. Additionally, well-being can benefit from an emotion-focused coping strategy. The results show that psychological well-being is related to physical well-being. This finding is in agreement with the clinical literature on general emotional states and health. An additional finding concerned the effects of specific emotions on psychological and physical well-being. Inmates who are more inclined to share their negative emotions with others are in better health than those who keep them to themselves. Similarly, trying to suppress negative feelings was found to have adverse consequences. In examining how exactly emotion-focused coping may help regulate specific emotions, it was found that emphasizing the positive aspects of the situation and thus engaging in silver lining thinking can also be effective. Despite limitations, the findings have applied value in the sense that providing inmates with the appropriate tools to deal with their negative feelings can help enhance their well-being. This study sought to gain more insight into emotion-focused coping in relation to specific emotions, such as sadness, anger, joy, worry, or regret and examine the effectiveness of different types of emotion management. The study investigated the relation between coping strategies of inmates and their psychological and physical well-being. Study participants consisted of 30 male inmates from 2 correctional facilities in the Netherlands. Table, notes, references

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