Effect of age, time spent in prison and level of education on the perceived health and quality of life of elderly prisoners

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of perceived health and quality of life of elderly prisoners in France, and to see whether there is a link between aging, time spent in prison and level of education and scores for perceived health and quality of life. Design/methodology/approach The authors’ recruited 138 male prisoners aged 50 and over in seven French prisons. The research protocol comprised a semi-structured interview and two scales. Findings The results revealed low levels of perceived health and quality of life among the elderly inmates. They also showed that age was not statistically associated with most of the dimensions of perceived health on the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), with the exception of poor mobility. By contrast, age was statistically associated with most of the dimensions of quality of life on the WHOQOL-Bref. Time spent in prison was only associated negatively with the “sleep” dimension of the NHP. Emotional reactions were perceived most positively by the inmates with the highest level of education. Practical implications It seems particularly important to assess the perceived health and quality of life of elderly prisoners in order to ensure their appropriate treatment and management. Originality/value Very few studies have examined the perceived health and quality of life of prisoners, even though this population is particularly vulnerable in terms of physical and mental health.

Quality of Life in Jail: Gender, Correlates, and Drivers in a Carceral Space

“…QOL was reported as highest in relation to physical health and lowest regarding the environment. This pattern parallels findings reported by other scholars (Combalbert et al, 2019; Mooney et al, 2002; Prost, Archuleta et al, 2019; Prost, Middleton et al, 2019). The WHO (2019) notes that QOL reflects the process by which persons adjust their report based on where they are in life (i.e., “their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live”).…”

“…Results of bivariate analysis reveal inverse relationships between physical health QOL and age. This pattern was also observed by Combalbert and colleagues (2019) and Prost, Archuleta et al (2019), and conceivably relates to general age-related decline in health and mobility. Overall QOL also declined with age.…”

“…Regarding facets of QOL, several studies have found that physical health QOL reigns as the highest self-rated domain and environmental QOL the lowest among persons who are incarcerated. Using the WHOQOL-BREF, Combalbert and colleagues (2019) found that the highest QOL scores related to mental health and lowest scores related to environmental QOL among men in French prisons as did Mooney et al (2002) who reported that scores were highest for physical health and lowest for the environmental domain among persons detained in Irish prisons. Also employing the WHOQOL-BREF, De Smet and colleagues (2017) reported highest scores related to the physical health, though lowest scores related to the social relationships domain among persons incarcerated in Belgium prisons.…”

“…Obtaining measures of QOL coincides with the strengths-based approach increasingly employed in criminal justice settings (Ward & Maruna, 2007). And though resilience-oriented measures remain infrequently employed with justice-involved persons (Vandevelde et al, 2017), QOL has also been examined in relation to self-harm behind bars and greater QOL is associated with a lower risk of suicidal behaviors (Combalbert et al, 2019; De Smet et al, 2017).…”

“…No known studies have examined dimensions, correlates, and gender disparities in quality of life (QOL) among persons incarcerated in U.S. jails despite the intimate connections between physical and mental health and QOL in non-carceral settings (Bize, Johnson, & Plotnikoff, 2007; Fleury et al, 2013; Fortin et al, 2004; Nunes, Flores, Mielke, Thume, & Facchini, 2016). Furthermore, links between QOL and mental and behavioral health (e.g., psychological distress; Muller & Bukten, 2019), executive functioning (Combalbert, Pennequin, Ferrand, Keita, & Geffray, 2018), suicide risk and self-harm (Combalbert et al, 2019; De Smet et al, 2017), and rehabilitation (Williams, 2003) have been found in samples of persons who are incarcerated in prisons. Knowledge regarding the QOL of persons who are incarcerated in jail is important for enhancing well-being among these vulnerable groups due to links between QOL and numerous health outcomes.…”