Determinants of Depression among Incarcerated Women

Abstract

This study aims to identify the current status of depression and related characteristics of incarcerated women, and to explain factors affecting the depression of incarcerated women in South Korea. For this purpose, this study used a sample of 171 incarcerated women from the dataset of ‘2016 Survey on the Right to Health in Prisons’. As the primary analysis method, a binary logistic model was used. As a result, first, regarding prison environments, long periods of imprisonment, short exercise time, and appropriate eating were significant predictors of female prisoners’ depression. Second, regarding individual and health factors, marital status before detention, number of health problems, and hard day to sleep at night were the significant predictors of female prisoners’ depression. Third, regarding women-related factors, pain experienced with untreated gynecological disease was the significant predictor of female prisoners’ depression. Based on the result, the study emphasized the need to consider the women-related factors to intervene the depression, and provided practical·policy suggestions.