The relationship of perceived social support with subjective well-being and quality of life among inmates

Rodrigues, Carmen; Santos, Anita

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.24/1538

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Authors

Rodrigues, Carmen

Santos, Anita

Abstract(s)

Incarceration in a prison causes drastic changes in the lives of inmates, forcing them to adapt their personal resources, in order to deal with emotional challenges, as well as new social and institutional rules. The adaptation process gains efficiency when there is effective social support (SS), allowing for better quality of life (QOL) for inmates. Subjective well-being (SWB) and, above all, positive affective experiences have a positive and cumulative influence on the individuals’ well-being, having an important role in improving QOL. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between perceived social support (PSS) and SWB and QOL in inmates. The sample consists of 55 male inmates from two regional prisons in northern Portugal, with a mean age of 41 years. The instruments used were the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOLBREF). From the legal-criminal profile, most inmates are primary, with prison time of 1 to 5 years, and a sentence to still be completed of between 2 and 5 years, they have a reasonable relationship with other inmates and a very good relationship with the prison staff. A significant correlation was found between PSS of significant others with all dimensions of QOL, between PSS and QOL, and between the total dimension of SWB and the general and psychological dimensions of QOL. The PSS is lower than that of the general population and inmates with greater PSS experience positive affect more frequently. Data is discussed and implications for working with inmates in prison are suggested.