Abstract
This research examined the roles of loneliness and social support as predictors of psychological well-being in awaiting-trial inmates. Participants were 300 awaiting-trial inmates of Enugu Prison Command. There were 200 (73.33%) male inmates and 80 (26.66%) female inmates in the sample. Their ages ranged between 18 years and 69 years (Mean age = 43.50 years; Standard Deviation = 5.21). Purposive sampling method was adopted in the sample selection; and participation in the study was anonymous. Three instruments – the short-form University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale (ULS-8), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the psychological well-being scale (PWB-S), were used for data collection. Analysis of data was conducted with multiple regressions and correlations (MRC). Results showed that loneliness and social support were significant predictors of psychological well-being. The findings failed to confirm the first hypothesis, but confirmed the second hypothesis. Discussion highlighted the need to establish vocational training facilities and other social services in prisons to constructively engage prison inmates in meaningful tasks.
Highlights
The present day Nigeria presents some of the worst socioeconomic challenges of all times
The present study investigates the roles of loneliness and social support on the psychological well-being of awaitingtrial inmates in Enugu Prison Command
The results show that loneliness significantly predicted psychological well-being in awaiting-trial inmates of Enugu Prison Command (β =.23, t = 4.07, p
Summary
The present day Nigeria presents some of the worst socioeconomic challenges of all times. Today’s youths are frustrated for lack of employment opportunities, low educational attainment, little participation in decision making and low social mobility. These legitimate grievances and many more lure many young people (especially) to develop criminal tendencies. The Prison institution is a penitentiary institution for re-socializing offenders to conform to society’s values and to learn how to be good citizens. With the high incidence of criminality in the present day Nigeria, ranging from religious fundamentalism, terrorism, and insurgency in the North to communal conflicts, kidnappings and broad day robbery in the south, Nigerian Prisons have acute overcrowding problems. With such high level of criminality, it is not surprising that prisons in Nigeria have a teeming population
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