C. Negy et al., THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEMALE INMATES COPING AND ADJUSTMENT IN A MINIMUM-SECURITY PRISON, Criminal justice and behavior, 24(2), 1997, pp. 224-233
The purpose of this study was to identify specific coping strategies a
ssociated with psychosocial adjustment in a minimum-security prison ca
mp for women. A sample of 153 female inmates completed a demographic q
uestionnaire, the COPE inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, t
he Beck Depression Inventory, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Of
13 theoretically distinct coping strategies, 6 were significantly posi
tively associated with adjustment (higher self-esteem, less depression
, and less state anxiety) and 2 were significantly negatively associat
ed with adjustment. Also, larger coping repertoires were associated wi
th higher adjustment scores. Implications of the findings are noted fo
r future research on teaching inmates coping techniques.