Coping, perceived social support, stress, and age as predictors of correctional adjustment amongst South African incarcerated female offenders

Abstract

ABSTRACT Incarceration is a challenging and stressful experience that requires offenders to alter their previous functioning and adjust to the correctional environment. Incarcerated female offenders who experience adjustment difficulties in the correctional environment tend to experience increased mental and physical health concerns. Therefore, investigating the possible predictor variables of correctional adjustment among incarcerated female offenders within the South African context is important. This study employed a quantitative research approach on a sample of 123 female offenders. The data were collected using questionnaires, and the findings indicated that the combination of some variables (Significant Other and Seeking Social Support) predicted Internal Adjustment, (Stress and Family) predicted External Adjustment, and (Stress and Significant Other) predicted Physical Adjustment of the female offenders. The results of this study could inform the development of correctional programmes centred on the unique treatment needs of incarcerated female offenders to assist offenders with adjusting to the correctional environment.