NCJ Number
207110
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 521-541
Date Published
October 2004
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study explored the effect of sexual on adjustment to incarceration.
Abstract
The number of female prisoners incarcerated is increasing at a higher rate than the number of males. The number of women imprisoned in the United States has tripled since 1980. Many of these women have a history of sexual assault; up to 78 percent have reported a history of abuse. Childhood sexual abuse is one of the most common reported traumas. Rape in adulthood is also common in incarcerated females at 25 percent. Many of these victims report some kind of psychological upset due to their traumas. Reactions to adult sexual assault typically include fear, cognitive impairment, rumination, emotional dysregulation, humiliation, degradation, guilt, shame, anger, generalized anxiety, self blame, exaggerated startle, and embarrassment. With the prevalence of past sexual trauma among female inmates, intensified by the adjustment to incarceration often causes problems in the areas of depression, self-esteem, stress guilt, confusion, and problems with family and friends. The study tested whether type of abuse history predicted adjustment across groups at initial incarceration and after 2 weeks. The results suggest that there is a connection although it is complex and paradoxical in manner. The inmates with assault histories actually experienced increased adjustment problems after the first 2 weeks. Information for this study was collected through self-report interviews and questionnaires. References