Trauma, Self-Criticism and Life Meaning in a formally incarcerated sample: Preliminary results

• In Event: Implications of psychological and biological factors for personal and criminal justice outcomes and experiences

Abstract

The association between trauma and adverse psychological effects is well established, while mechanisms shaping meaning in life, especially in correctional settings, remain understudied. This research bridges this gap by investigating the connection between symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), disturbances in self-organization (DSO), self-criticism (SC), presence of life meaning (PoLM)/search for life meaning (SfLM), in formally incarcerated individuals.
The study involved a sample of N=64 incarcerated individuals (100% men) aged 22-73 (M=42.88, SD=12.33) recruited from Italian correctional facilities. Participants completed the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) to assess PTSD and DSO, the Inadequate Self Subscale of the Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS) to evaluate SC, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) to assess PoLM and SfLM.
Correlation analysis highlighted significant links between trauma and self-criticism (r=.52, p<.001), trauma and SfLM (r=.31, p<.01), complex trauma and self-criticism (r=.56, p<.001), complex trauma and SfLM (r=.31, p<.01).
The current study provides preliminary insights into the complex interplay between trauma, self-criticism, and life meaning in correctional facility settings. Identifying self-criticism as a potential link between trauma and life meaning underscores the importance of addressing negative self-evaluations in interventions targeting meaning-making processes among individuals with a history of trauma.

Authors

• Valeria Saladino, University of Cassino

• Danilo Calaresi, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro

• Valeria Verrastro, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro

• Melissa D. Grady, The Catholic University of America