Victims of debt after imprisonment: Experiences of Norwegians with substance use challenges

Q3 Psychology

Scandinavian Psychologist Pub Date : 2019-02-15 DOI:10.15714/SCANDPSYCHOL.6.E1

Ellen Andvig, Knut Ivar Bjørlykhaug, J. K. Hummelvoll

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Persons with ongoing substance use problems are highly represented in groups with low income, high unemployment rates, and high levels of criminal behaviour. Those who leave prison often face economic and social problems, difficult living conditions, and unemployment. One important problem is debt, which may prevent ex-prisoners from gaining an economic foothold, even when employed. The aim of this study was to examine how financial security may support ex-prisoners by creating conditions wherein they can successfully re-enter society. Data were collected through multistage focus-group interviews with seven participants and were analysed by thematic, qualitative analyses. The results revealed that participants dreamt of an ordinary life with sufficient money. They experienced a paralysing burden of debt and emphasised the importance of receiving debt support and being employed. Such support made it possible to move towards economic freedom. The findings highlight the link between a lack of money and difficult life circumstances when trying to establish a life after release from prison as well as the connection between substance use and poverty. Participants experienced increased autonomy and freedom after receiving debt assistance and they stressed the importance of regular income. This study illustrates that social support may counteract exclusion and segregation, and it elucidates the importance of both community participation and viewing oneself as part of society.

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监禁后的债务受害者：挪威人面临药物使用挑战的经历

持续存在药物使用问题的人在低收入、高失业率和高犯罪行为的群体中有很高的代表性。那些离开监狱的人往往面临经济和社会问题、困难的生活条件和失业。一个重要的问题是债务，这可能会阻止前囚犯获得经济立足点，即使他们受雇。这项研究的目的是研究经济保障如何通过创造条件来支持前囚犯成功重返社会。通过与7名参与者进行多阶段焦点小组访谈收集数据，并通过专题定性分析进行分析。结果显示，参与者梦想着有足够的钱过普通人的生活。他们承受着沉重的债务负担，并强调接受债务支助和就业的重要性。这种支持使它有可能走向经济自由。研究结果强调了缺乏资金和出狱后艰难的生活环境之间的联系，以及药物使用和贫困之间的联系。与会者在接受债务援助后感受到更多的自主权和自由，他们强调了固定收入的重要性。这项研究表明，社会支持可以抵消排斥和隔离，它阐明了社区参与和将自己视为社会一部分的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Scandinavian Psychologist Psychology-Psychology (all)

CiteScore

0.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Psykologisk.no – Scandinavian Psychologist (ISSN 1894-5570) is an open-access journal sponsored by the Norwegian Society for Psychological Science. Instructions to authors are available in English and Norwegian. The word «psykologisk» means psychological. Our aim is to disseminate science-based psychological knowledge to the general public in Nordic countries, and to publish original research and professional articles of interest to the research community and the applied fields. In addition to the broader population, our target audiences are researchers and practitioners in psychology and in related fields, users of psychological services, as well as current and future students.