Perceived Stress, External Locus of Control, and Social Support as Predictors of Psychological Adjustment Among Female Inmates With or Without a History of Sexual Abuse

    Authors

    K. Asberg;K. Renk

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol.

    Keywords

    female inmates; locus of control; social support; depression; anxiety; trauma; HIERARCHICAL LINEAR-MODELS; BECK DEPRESSION INVENTORY; PRISON-INMATES; INCARCERATED WOMEN; GENDER-DIFFERENCES; JAIL INMATES; SELF-ESTEEM; PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES; MULTIPLE-REGRESSION; DECISION-MAKING; Criminology & Penology; Psychology, Applied

    Abstract

    Given the growing number of women who are incarcerated across the United States, the current study investigated the relationships among female inmates' perceptions of their own stress, external locus of control (LOC), social support adequacy, and various aspects of psychological functioning. Generally, female inmates with a self-reported history of childhood sexual abuse did not differ from their nonabused counterparts on the variables of interest. Results suggested that female inmates' perceptions of higher stress, a higher degree of external LOC, and inadequate social support correlated with greater symptoms of depression and hopelessness as well as lower self-esteem. In regression analyses, stress and social support were significant predictors for depression and anxiety. In contrast, stress was the only significant predictor of hopelessness and self-esteem. Finally, none of the predictors examined here was significant in the prediction of traumatic stress. Overall, findings suggested the importance of stress and social support in the prediction of female inmates' adjustment, specifically their symptoms of depression and anxiety.

    Journal Title

    International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

    Volume

    58

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Review

    Language

    English

    First Page

    59

    Last Page

    84

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000327148700005

    ISSN

    0306-624X

    Share

    COinS