Abstract
Mental health problems are 3 times higher among prisoners than the general population. After release, reentry barriers and other factors can exacerbate mental problems. This study of 250 African American ex-offenders examines the relationship between sociobehavioral factors and mental health. Independent variables included self-reported health, alcohol use, employment, and history of mental problems before prison. Covariates included the number of immediate family with mental problems and the number of serious conflicts with family members or friends. Analyses revealed that men who had serious conflicts, used alcohol more often, reported less than excellent health, and not employed were more likely to report being troubled by mental problems. Family mental health history was not statistically significant. The current study adds to the literature by identifying selected factors associated with the mental health of African American male, ex-offenders. Findings from this study can inform interventions to address mental health issues and reduce recidivism.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3873-3889 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) 2018.
Funding
Funders | Funder number |
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National Institute on Drug Abuse | T32DA035200 |
Keywords
- African American men
- Black men
- ex-offenders
- mental health
- reentry
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Applied Psychology