Adaptation of the Social Readjustment Rating Scale for a Prison Population

Abstract

ABSTRACT Prisons are stressful environments in which individuals experience various life events. Life events research has demonstrated the relationship between stressful life events and physical and psychological health and well-being. This paper provides a schedule of recent events (SRE) specific to prison life, as well as a modified social readjustment rating scale (SRRS) measuring the magnitude of stressful life events for inmates. Life events are divided into three categories (1) non-prison general events from Holmes and Rahe's original SRE (1967); (2) events specific to prison life; and (3) negative events including both general and prison-specific events. This paper presents correlations between these three clusters of life events and indicators of psychological well-being for inmates at a maximum security state institution. The findings are mixed, showing significant positive relationships between these clusters of life events and indicators of psychological well-being for inmates at a maximum security state institution. The findings are mixed, showing significant positive relationships between these clusters of life events and depression while not showing significant inverse relationships with self-esteem.