Coping styles, family dynamics, and prison adjustment : an investigation of white, black, and Hispanic offenders

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between specific means of coping and psychosocial adjustment to prison amongst white, black, and Hispanic female and male offenders. Further, this study sought to explore ways in which family background and other demographic variables are related to both adjustment and coping preferences. The major findings from this study included the following: For both females (n = 153) and males (n = 27), passive coping styles were significantly related to better psychological adjustment in prison. For females, but not males, active coping styles were also significantly related to adjustment. However, the relationship between passive coping and adjustment was significantly stronger than the relationship between active coping and adjustment for females, suggesting that employing passive coping tactics may be more adaptive while confined to a prison setting. This study also found that the amount of time inmates had served in prison was unrelated to their coping styles and to their adjustment. With respect to ethnic differences, there was no difference found between whites, blacks, and Hispanics regarding their coping styles or family backgrounds. Lastly, for males, but not for females, it was found that inmates having had families of origin that were controlling and discouraged personal autonomy manifested the least adjustment while in prison. Implications of these findings and additional analyses are discussed.