An integrated exploration of factors associated with psychological distress among older prisoners. Issue 6 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baidawi, Susan; Trotter, Chris; O'Connor, Daniel W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology. Volume 27:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 815
• Page End: 834
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Prisoners -- older adults -- psychological distress -- ageing; Forensic psychiatry -- Periodicals; Forensic psychology -- Periodicals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1080/14789949.2016.1218533
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-9949

Abstract

Abstract: This paper compares the contributions of socio-demographic, health, mental health, social and environmental factors in explaining variations in psychological distress among older prisoners in two Australian states. One hundred and seventy-three prisoners (aged 50+ ) from 8 Australian prisons were interviewed using the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) Scale. Three regression analyses were conducted to compare different models of 14 variables significantly associated with psychological distress. Independent variables most prominently associated with variations in psychological distress among older inmates were self-reported levels of social support, self-reported safety and ease of health care access. Difficulties in the built environment and mental health history were significantly explanatory of variations in older prisoner distress in two of the three models. The findings suggest that modifiable situational factors evident in current prison contexts are reasonably explanatory of variations in prisoner distress among older inmates.