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Solitary confinement and the well-being of people in prison

Author

Listed:
  • Wright, Kevin A.
  • Young, Jacob T.N.
  • Matekel, Caitlin G.
  • Infante, Arynn A.
  • Gifford, Faith E.
  • Meyers, Travis J.
  • Morse, Stephanie J.

Abstract

Solitary confinement and mental well-being has been researched extensively, with a significant increase in studies over the last ten years. These recent studies produce mixed evidence for whether placement in solitary confinement is associated with psychological distress. We advance our understanding of these relationships in two critical ways. First, we conduct both between- and within-person analyses within the same data to better understand the relationship of solitary confinement and mental well-being relative to the well-being of people in less restrictive prison settings. Second, we ask the men in our sample questions about their personality style, coping strategies, and interactions with staff, which allows us to explore how individual characteristics and prison experiences matter, alongside isolation, in understanding mental well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Wright, Kevin A. & Young, Jacob T.N. & Matekel, Caitlin G. & Infante, Arynn A. & Gifford, Faith E. & Meyers, Travis J. & Morse, Stephanie J., 2023. "Solitary confinement and the well-being of people in prison," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:335:y:2023:i:c:s0277953623005816
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116224
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Testa, Alexander & Jackson, Dylan B. & Vaughn, Michael G. & Bello, Jennifer K., 2020. "Incarceration as a unique social stressor during pregnancy: Implications for maternal and newborn health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    2. David Weisburd & Cody W. Telep & Heather Vovak & Taryn Zastrow & Anthony A. Braga & Brandon Turchan, 2022. "Reforming the police through procedural justice training: A multicity randomized trial at crime hot spots," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 119(14), pages 2118780119-, April.
    3. Porter, Lauren C. & Kozlowski-Serra, Meghan & Lee, Hedwig, 2021. "Proliferation or adaptation? Differences across race and sex in the relationship between time served in prison and mental health symptoms," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    4. Cloud, D.H. & Drucker, E. & Browne, A. & Parsons, J., 2015. "Public health and solitary confinement in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(1), pages 18-26.
    5. Sandra Bucerius & Kevin D Haggerty & David T Dunford, 2021. "Prison as temporary refuge: amplifying the voices of women detained in prison [‘Access to Healthcare Services During Incarceration Among Female Inmates’]," The British Journal of Criminology, Oxford University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 519-537.
    6. Ben Laws, 2021. "Segregation Seekers: an Alternative Perspective on the Solitary Confinement Debate [‘Fortress UK? Gated Communities, the Spatial Revolt of the Elites and Time–Space Trajectories of Segregation’]," The British Journal of Criminology, Oxford University Press, vol. 61(6), pages 1452-1468.
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