Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Justice Research and Statistics Association, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Crim Behav Ment Health. 2021 Dec;31(6):399-409. doi: 10.1002/cbm.2223. Epub 2021 Nov 2.
There are high rates of mental disorders among prisoners. Prisoners are also likely to have difficulties with intimate relationships, perhaps related to the imprisonment, but their mental health may be relevant. There is a dearth of research on intimate relationship qualities and mental health of offenders and their partners over time.
To explore mental health and relationship trajectories among men in prison, and their partners, before the men's release, through a time 6 months post-release, and then again 8 years later, and to test associations between relationship quality and mental health.
Data stem from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-funded longitudinal 'Families and Imprisonment Research' (FAIR) project on paternal imprisonment and family resilience. Inclusion criteria for the study were men serving a short- to medium-term prison sentence who were within 4 months of release; with a current or ex-partner with whom they have at least one child; and for whom there were data on mental health and relationship factors during imprisonment, and at 6 months and 8 years post-release. Similar data were also obtained for their (ex-)partners.
The main sample comprised 39 men and 39 women who were in the same 'family set' for the first two waves, and after 8 years, 26 men and 30 women were retained. Just over 40% of the men and their (ex-)partners each disclosed that they had a mental health problem preceding his release. Proportions fluctuated slightly over time, with some dissonance between self-perceived disorder and self-ratings on a symptoms rating scale. Twenty-nine couples sustained their relationship during the transition between prison and release, but after 8 years, only four remained together. There was little evidence of association between measures of mental health and relationship quality among either the men or their partners.
The findings challenge assumptions about the extent to which partners can play fully supportive roles in a former prisoner's transition from institutional life back into the community, as partners are also likely to be experiencing difficulties during this time. Thus, former prisoners and their families should be afforded equal access to support and assistance during offender rehabilitation.
囚犯中心理障碍的发生率很高。囚犯可能在亲密关系方面也存在困难，这可能与监禁有关，但他们的心理健康可能也与此相关。关于罪犯及其伴侣的亲密关系质量和心理健康随时间的变化，相关研究甚少。
在男性囚犯获释前、获释后 6 个月，以及 8 年后，探讨他们及其伴侣的心理健康和关系轨迹，并检验关系质量与心理健康之间的关联。
数据来源于经济和社会研究委员会（ESRC）资助的纵向“家庭与监禁研究”（FAIR）项目，该项目研究了父亲入狱和家庭适应力问题。该研究的纳入标准为：即将服刑短期至中期监禁的男性；在服刑期间，与至少有一个孩子的现任或前任伴侣；以及在监禁期间、获释后 6 个月和 8 年时，有心理健康和关系因素数据。他们的（前）伴侣也有类似的数据。
主要样本包括 39 名男性和 39 名女性，他们在前两次调查中属于同一个“家庭单元”，8 年后，保留了 26 名男性和 30 名女性。超过 40%的男性及其（前）伴侣在获释前都表示自己有心理健康问题。比例随时间略有波动，自我感知障碍与症状评分量表上的自评之间存在一些不一致。29 对伴侣在监狱过渡期间维持了关系，但 8 年后，只有四对仍在一起。男性及其伴侣的心理健康和关系质量测量之间几乎没有关联的证据。
这些发现挑战了伴侣在罪犯从监禁生活过渡到社区生活中能在多大程度上充分发挥支持作用的假设，因为在此期间，伴侣也可能面临困难。因此，在罪犯康复过程中，应让前囚犯及其家人平等获得支持和援助。
