Home / Publications / NCJRS Abstract

PUBLICATIONS

Stay Informed
Register with NCJRS to receive NCJRS's biweekly e-newsletter JUSTINFO and additional periodic emails from NCJRS and the NCJRS federal sponsors that highlight the latest research published or sponsored by the Office of Justice Programs.

NCJRS Abstract

The document referenced below is part of the NCJRS Virtual Library collection. To conduct further searches of the collection, visit the Virtual Library. See the Obtain Documents page for direction on how to access resources online, via mail, through interlibrary loans, or in a local library.

NCJ Number:	204248

Title:	Coping Strategies in Young Male Prisoners

Journal:	Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume:33 Issue:1 Dated:February 2004 Pages:41-49

Author(s):	Susana Mohino; Teresa Kirchner; Maria Forns

Date Published:	February 2004

Page Count:	9

Publisher:	http://www.wkap.nl/journalhome.htm/0047-2891

Type:	Report (Study/Research)

Format:	Article

Language:	English

Country:	Netherlands

Annotation:	This study identified and characterized the coping strategies used by young male inmates in the prison setting.

Abstract:	The sample consisted of 107 young male inmates being held in a correctional facility in Barcelona, Spain. The Coping Responses Inventory Adult Form was used to evaluate coping strategies. The analysis focused on the type of coping strategies that predominated among inmates, considering both the focus and the method; the use of coping strategies in relationship to the characteristics of the prison environment; the relationship of the coping strategy to the inmate's perception of the stressful situation; and the relationship of the inmate's cognitive level to the strategies used. The variables reflective of the prison environment were time spent in prison, previous convictions (first time or repeat offender), and custodial status (remand or convicted inmate). The data analysis indicates that the inmates used "approach" strategies (direct efforts to resolve the stressful situation) more often than avoidant strategies, and cognitive strategies were used more often than behavioral ones. This coping pattern is similar to that observed in nonprison populations. The time of exposure to a stressor was a variable that produced changes in the specific coping strategies used. Also, first-time inmates were more likely to use the strategy of "seeking alternative rewards" than were repeat offenders. Contrary to what might be expected, custodial status did not influence the type of strategy used. Neither as a relationship found between cognitive ability and individual coping styles. A degree of consistency was found between the inmate's perception of the problem and the preferred strategy for dealing with it. 4 tables and 22 references

Main Term(s):	Juvenile inmates

Index Term(s):	Adjustment to prison; Behavior under stress; Effects of imprisonment; Inmate attitudes; Male offenders; Prison conditions; Spain; Young adult offenders



	To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=204248

*A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents not available online, a link to the publisher's website is provided. Tell us how you use the NCJRS Library and Abstracts Database - send us your feedback.

PUBLICATIONS

NCJRS Abstract

Find in a Library