Unmasking negative affect in older incarcerated individuals with varying criminal histories.

Abstract

Objectives: Although older individuals are believed to have better emotional regulation than their counterparts, limited attention has been given to the nonclinical dimensions of incarcerated individuals' well-being. The present study contributes to the research by evaluating the differences in subjective well-being for those incarcerated for the first time and those habitually reincarcerated across age groups.

Methods: Using the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates, we examined the differences in well-being across age and criminal history using three distinct age groups. Well-being, or negative affect, was measured through six self-report items. Ordinal regressions were then used to evaluate the relationship between negative affect and the age groups.

Results: Consistent with prior research, individuals aged 50+ were less likely to feel "nervous, restless, and think that everything felt like an effort"; however, they were significantly more likely to report feelings of worthlessness. The study also identified negative feelings were less pronounced among first-time older incarcerated individuals than among those with longer incarceration histories.

Conclusion: The current study provided further extension in understanding the age-related and criminal history-related differences in emotional functioning and adjustment. The findings suggested that criminal history and age are distinct yet interrelated factors impairing incarcerated individuals' mental health.