Embracing Hope: The Role of Positive Psychology Intervention in Facilitating Positive Changes for Female Prisoners

• In Event: PWG - Promoting health and rehabilitation through intervention programmes

Abstract

The current study expands on an earlier research project that explored whether female prisoners participating in a 6-week positive psychology intervention (designed by the author) experienced levels of well-being and personal growth, higher than prisoners who did not participate. The statistical analysis revealed that those who completed the positive intervention showed significantly higher levels of personal growth and self-awareness (Chu et al, 2022). To further investigate whether and how the intervention impacted participants’ lives, and which parts of the intervention were considered most helpful, in-depth interviews were conducted, two years after the intervention, with 10 female prisoners.
Interviewees stated that they continued reviewing the notes and practicing assignments (e.g., recalling three good things per day, expressing gratitude, and mindfulness). Several interviewees stated that the intervention helped them find tranquility and their own strengths. Through intervention, they learned to love themselves and to express their gratitude to others. Some indicated that they developed positive characteristics like altruism, empowerment, self-efficacy, self-awareness and self-control. They felt motivated to seek help as needed and to extend help to other inmates (e.g., sharing the intervention lessons and encouraging other inmates). Some interviewees stated that they learned to reflect on past behavior and that they anticipated a hopeful future. The present study concludes with policy implications and suggestions for future research.

Keywords: positive psychology, altruism, mindfulness, anticipated desistance

Author

• Doris Chu, Northumbria University, UK