Xiao Junze, Zhang Qingqi, Shen Yutong, Zeng Yuze, Niu Li, Liu Xiaoqian, Ma Ai
School of Criminal Justice, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, 102249, China.
School of Sociology, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, 102249, China.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jul 3;25(1):2347. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23563-w.
Inmate suicide is a serious problem faced by society. Evidence shows that nature exposure is closely related to the mental health of inmates, yet its relationship with suicidal tendency remains unclear. Our study explores the relationship between nature exposure and suicidal tendency among inmates by establishing a moderated mediation model.
We conducted a survey from May to June 2022 in six Chinese prisons, utilizing tools including the Nature Exposure Scale, the short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Suicide Orientation Subscale, and the Prison Group Climate Instrument, resulting in the collection of 1048 valid data. The study employed path analysis, implementing linear regression via the PROCESS program, to assess the mediation and moderation effects within our study variables.
This study found that loneliness mediates the relationship between nature exposure and suicidal tendency among inmates. Additionally, the group atmosphere played a moderating role. Specifically, the more positive the group atmosphere in prisons, the better the mitigating effect of nature exposure on loneliness, and the weaker the promoting effect of loneliness on suicidal tendency.
Our findings offer valuable perspectives on mitigating suicide among prison populations. Prisons should consider increasing natural elements in inmates' living, working, and activity spaces, and regularly evaluate and intervene in their loneliness. Additionally, improving the group atmosphere within the prison can help alleviate suicidal tendency.
囚犯自杀是社会面临的一个严重问题。有证据表明，接触自然与囚犯的心理健康密切相关，但其与自杀倾向的关系仍不明确。我们的研究通过建立一个有调节的中介模型来探讨囚犯接触自然与自杀倾向之间的关系。
2022年5月至6月，我们在中国的六所监狱进行了一项调查，使用了包括自然接触量表、加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独感简表、自杀倾向分量表和监狱群体氛围量表在内的工具，共收集到1048份有效数据。该研究采用路径分析，通过PROCESS程序进行线性回归，以评估研究变量中的中介和调节效应。
本研究发现，孤独感在囚犯接触自然与自杀倾向之间起中介作用。此外，群体氛围起到了调节作用。具体而言，监狱中的群体氛围越积极，接触自然对孤独感的缓解作用就越好，孤独感对自杀倾向的促进作用就越弱。
我们的研究结果为减轻监狱人群的自杀行为提供了有价值的观点。监狱应考虑在囚犯的生活、工作和活动空间中增加自然元素，并定期评估和干预他们的孤独感。此外，改善监狱内的群体氛围有助于减轻自杀倾向。
