Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Exploration of older prisoner’s social needs, who attended one of two prison initiatives for older people: an inductive phenomenological study

Exploration of older prisoner’s social needs, who attended one of two prison initiatives for... The purpose of this study was to explore the social needs and experiences of older prisoners who were attending one of two social initiatives in a prison in England.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on an interpretative phenomenological study, conducted in a prison in the South West of England. Older prisoners attending an initiative implemented for those over 55, a purposive activity or a social task group, participated in focus groups, which were audio recorded and thematically analysed.FindingsTwo overarching themes were identified. Firstly, the need to feel safe: prisoners felt attending an initiative provided them with a safe haven away from noisy and boisterous younger prisoners, who they perceived as different from them and who received preferential treatment. Secondly, being provided with a purpose: prisoners felt they belonged among their peers, which motivated them to attend and support group activities.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was completed in one prison. However, both initiatives supported the social needs of older prisoners and enabled them to leave their cells, although they felt unsafe when not attending an initiative.Originality/valueThere remains a need to support the process of integrating younger and older prisoners, by the provision of both integrated and separate initiatives, with the aim of developing cross-generational and bi-directional peer support. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Prisoner Health Emerald Publishing

Exploration of older prisoner’s social needs, who attended one of two prison initiatives for older people: an inductive phenomenological study

Download PDF
13 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/exploration-of-older-prisoner-s-social-needs-who-attended-one-of-two-0TJNCZIjgQ
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1744-9200
DOI
10.1108/ijph-03-2020-0016
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the social needs and experiences of older prisoners who were attending one of two social initiatives in a prison in England.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on an interpretative phenomenological study, conducted in a prison in the South West of England. Older prisoners attending an initiative implemented for those over 55, a purposive activity or a social task group, participated in focus groups, which were audio recorded and thematically analysed.FindingsTwo overarching themes were identified. Firstly, the need to feel safe: prisoners felt attending an initiative provided them with a safe haven away from noisy and boisterous younger prisoners, who they perceived as different from them and who received preferential treatment. Secondly, being provided with a purpose: prisoners felt they belonged among their peers, which motivated them to attend and support group activities.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was completed in one prison. However, both initiatives supported the social needs of older prisoners and enabled them to leave their cells, although they felt unsafe when not attending an initiative.Originality/valueThere remains a need to support the process of integrating younger and older prisoners, by the provision of both integrated and separate initiatives, with the aim of developing cross-generational and bi-directional peer support.

Journal

International Journal of Prisoner Health – Emerald Publishing

Published: May 28, 2021

Keywords: Prisoners; Psychological health; Prison; Bullying; Elderly prisoners; Drug abuse

References

  • An integrated exploration of factors associated with psychological distress among older prisoners
    Baidawi, S.; Trotter, C.; O’Connor, D.W.
  • Using thematic analysis in psychology
    Braun, V.; Clarke, V.
  • Thematic analysis
    Braun, V.; Clarke, C.; Cooper, H.; Camic, P.M.; Long, D.L.; Panter, A.T.; Rindskopf, D.; Sher, K.J.
  • Social and emotional support as a protective factor against current depression among individuals with adverse childhood experiences
    Brinker, J.; Cheruvu, V.K.
  • Development of a dementia education workshop for prison staff, prisoners, health and social care professionals
    Brooke, J.; Rybacka, M.
  • Commentary: the top ten reasons to limit prescriptions of controlled substances in prisons
    Burns, K.A.
  • Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report. U.S. Department of Justice: Aging of the state prison population, 1993-2013
    Carson, E.A.; Sabol, W.J.
  • Moving and thinking behind bars: the effectiveness of an exercise and health education program on psychological distress of incarcerated people with, or at risk of developing, a chronic illness
    Cashin, A.; Potter, E.; Stevens, W.; Davidson, K.; Muldoon, D.
  • Developing a training program on issues in aging for correctional workers
    Cianciolo, P.K.; Zupan, L.L.
  • Teaching thematic analysis: overcoming challenges and developing strategies for effective learning
    Clarke, V.; Braun, V.
  • Data saturation
    Faulkner, S.L.; Trotter, S.P.; Matthes, J.; Davis, C.S.; Potter, R.F.
  • Mental health of prisoners: prevalence, adverse outcomes, and interventions
    Fazel, S.; Hayes, A.J.; Bartellas, K.; Clerici, M.; Trestman, R.
  • Elderly prisoners
    Ginn, S.
  • A phenomenological research design illustrated
    Groenewald, T.
  • Psychological distress in elderly people is associated with diet, well-being, health status, social support and physical functioning a HUNT3 study
    Gronning, K.; Espnes, G.A.; Nguyen, C.; Rodrigues, A.M.F.; Gregorio, M.J.; Sousa, R.; Canhão, H.; Andre, B.
  • True grit: an innovative program for elderly inmates
    Harrison, M.
  • The health and social needs of older male prisoners
    Hayes, A.J.; Burns, A.; Turnbull, P.; Shaw, J.J.
  • The social contexts of focus groups
    Hollander, J.A.
  • Art: trauma to therapy for aging female prisoners
    Hongo, A.; Katz, A.; Valenti, K.
  • Veterans aging in place behind bars: a structured living program that works
    Kopera-Frye, K.; Harrison, M.; Iribane, J.; Dampsey, E.; Adams, M.; Grabreck, T.; McMullen, T.; Peak, K.; McCown, W.; Harrison, W.
  • Social network influences on self-care and health among older adults with multiple chronic conditions
    Le Blanc, R.; Jacelon, C.; Chiodo, L.; Paik, A.; Auling, F.
  • Spice’ use among offenders supervised in approved premises and community rehabilitation companies: a preliminary qualitative study
    Lloyd, C.; Grace, S.
  • The role of social support in protecting mental health when employed and unemployed: a longitudinal fixed effects analysis using 12 annual waves of the HILDA cohort
    Milner, A.; Krnjacki, L.; Butterworth, P.; Lamontagne, A.D.
  • Losing tract of time. dementia and the ageing prison population: treatment challenges and examples of good practice
    Moll, A.
  • Prison and jail deaths in custody, 2000‐2013 – statistical tables. U.S
    Noonan, M.E.
  • Links between depressive symptoms and unmet health and social care needs among older prisoners
    O'Hara, K.; Forsyth, K.; Webb, R.; Senior, J.; Hayes, A.J.; Challis, D.; Fazel, S.; Shaw, J.
  • Adding spice to the porridge: the development of a synthetic cannabinoid market in an English prison
    Ralphs, R.; Williams, L.; Askew, R.; Norton, A.
  • Safer prescribing in prisons. Guidance for clinicians
  • The health of American’s aging prison population
    Sharupski, K.A.; Gross, A.; Schrack, J.A.; Deal, J.A.; Eber, G.B.
  • The association between social support and physical activity in older adults
    Smith, G.L.; Banting, L.; Eime, R.; O’Sullivan, G.; van Uffelen, J.G.Z.
  • The nature and extent of prisoners’ social care needs: do older prisoners require a different service response?
    Tucker, S.; Hargreaves, C.; Cattermull, M.; Roberts, A.; Walker, T.; Shaw, J.; Challis, D.
  • Undertaking action research in prison: developing the older prisoner health and social care assessment and plan
    Walsh, E.; Forsyth, K.; Senior, J.; O’Hara, K.; Shaw, J.
  • Improving the health of older prisoners: nutrition and exercise in correctional institutions
    Wangmo, T.; Handtke, V.; Bretschneider, W.; Elger, B.S.
  • The perceived benefits of an arts project for health and wellbeing of older offenders
    Wilkinson, D.J.; Caulfield, L.S.
  • Global health and aging
  • Older prisoners and the care act 2014. An examination of policy practice and models of social care delivery
    Lee, C.; Haggith, A.; Mann, N.; Kuhn, I.; Carter, F.; Eden, B.; van Bortel, T.
  • A systematic integrative review of programmes addressing the social care needs of older prisoners
    Lee, C.; Treachy, S.; Haggith, A.; Wickramasinghe, N.D.; Cater, F.; Kuhn, I.; van Bortel, T.