Coping style and distress in newly incarcerated male adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: To research relations between coping style and well-being in adolescent prisoners; previous research suggests that the stress of incarceration may be moderated by coping style in adult prisoners.

Methods: This research examined links between coping style and distress in 133 male adolescent prisoners on two occasions over a six-week period shortly after the commencement of their imprisonment.

Results: Anxiety and depression both declined over this period, with T1-T2 depression reduction negatively associated with T1 emotion-based coping and positively associated with T1 detachment. Emotion coping declined over the six weeks, whereas detachment coping increased. These changes were associated with improved depression and anxiety scores.

Conclusions: Detachment and low emotional expression may assist incarcerated adolescents to adapt more positively to the initial period of imprisonment, and prisoners may adopt these more effective coping styles over time. These findings are explained in terms of adaptation to stressors specific to the prison environment.