Solitary Confinement and the Well-being of People in Prison

• NCJ Number: 308912
• Journal: Social Science & Medicine Volume: 335 Issue: 116224 Dated: Oct 2023
• Author(s): Kevin A. Wright; Jacob T. N. Young; Caitlin G. Matekel; Arynn A. Infant; Faith E. Gifford; Travis J. Meyers; Stephanie J. Morse
• Date Published: October 2023
• Grant Number(s): 2016-R2-CX-0115
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Altering Administrative Segregation for Inmates and Staff: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Effects of Living and Working in Restrictive Housing

Annotation

This paper assesses the affect of solitary confinement on the well-being of people in prison.

Abstract

In this study, the authors advance the understanding of how solitary confinement affects mental well-being. First, the researchers conduct both between- and within-person analyses within the same data to better understand the relationship of solitary confinement and mental well-being relative to the well-being of people in less restrictive prison settings. Second, the researchers ask the men in their sample questions about their personality style, coping strategies, and interactions with staff, which allows researchers to explore how individual characteristics and prison experiences matter, alongside isolation, in understanding mental well-being. (Published Abstract Provided)