"Rock I Cling To": Religious Engagement in the Lives of Life-Sentenced Women

• NCJ Number: 248223
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 94 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2014 Pages: 388-408
• Author(s): Meredith H. Dye; Ronald H. Aday; Lori Farney; Jordan Raley
• Date Published: September 2014
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A growing body of researchmuch of which has focused on male inmatessuggests that religion ameliorates many pains and problems of imprisonment.

Abstract

A growing body of researchmuch of which has focused on male inmatessuggests that religion ameliorates many pains and problems of imprisonment. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of religious engagement on prison adjustment among a sample of 214 females serving life sentences in a Southern state prison system. Results of multivariate analyses indicate that religious engagement is indirectly related to prison adjustment; however, the role that religious engagement plays seems to be through helping women deal with feelings of depression. Women's personal accounts of prison adjustment corroborate these findings. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage.