The Impact of Program Participation on Depression in Prison Inmates

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Does participation in community groups, work assignments, vocational and educational training, and pre-release programs impact depression in state and federal prison inmates? Previous research indicates that incarceration can trigger depressive symptoms in prison inmates, lowering their self-esteem and weakening their social bonds. These depressive symptoms can be consequential to inmates beyond incarceration, hindering social and economic success when they are released back into society. Participation in prison programming has been shown to mitigate the symptoms of depression, ultimately improving inmates’ individual and institutional well-being. Using data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in Federal and State Correctional Facilities, this quantitative analysis examines whether program participation shapes depression in prison inmates. Theoretical and practical implications of results are discussed, as are the limitations of these data.

Author

• Elizabeth Hayden, Towson University