Maladaptation and Prison Environmental Preferences Among Inmate Parasuicides

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between maladaptation and the environmental preferences of male prison inmates who had engaged in deliberate, non-fatal self-harm at an earlier time in their current incarceration. The subjects, inmates from the New York State prison system, were administered the Prison Preference Inventory to measure their environmental preferences. In addition several current adaptation variables were measured, including depression, anxiety, anger, hopelessness, suicidality, and life quality and satisfaction. Information on disciplinary violations and overall adjustment were collected from records. A global adaption measure was created from all significantly associated pleasures and inmates were divided into good and poor adaptors. Good and poor adaptors were identified as having significantly different environmental preference profiles. Good adaptors were more likely than poor adaptors to prefer Activity and Social Stimulation and less likely to prefer Privacy and Freedom. Contrary to conventional wisdom, prior psychiatric history did not differentiate the two groups.