Perceived social support, resilience and consumption of psychoactive substances amongst inmates in prisons.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of perceived social support and resilience in the use of alcohol and other drugs amongst female inmates. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study with 174 inmates was conducted in two prisons in the Region of Murcia. A self-administered questionnaire was used, which included socio-demographic, prison, alcohol and other drug consumption, perceived social support and resilience variables. RESULTS: 28.2% of the inmates consumed at least one of the substances analyzed (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, heroin and/or tranquillizers without medical prescription) in prison. The female consumers showed significantly lower levels of perceived social support and resilience, compared to the counterparts who did not consume in prison. DISCUSSION: Findings show how perceived social support and resilience are factors of protection against substance use in prison, and these can be incorporated in future prevention programs for the consumption of alcohol and other drugs during imprisonment.

Psychosocial stressors perceived in the process of social reintegration and compliance time remaining in prison sentence.

INTRODUCTION: This study shows the results obtained from evaluating the main psychosocial stressors perceived in the process of social reintegration and their relation to a remaining sentence time in prison. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire based on an ad hoc design was administered, using a Likert scale, with a total of 383 inmates serving sentences in southeast Spain. RESULTS: Findings show that inmates with a remaining sentence period of more than one year, like those who had served more than a year of their sentence, showed greater concern about possible economic difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: The psychosocial stressors studied might provide relevant information to facilitate the process of social reintegration after the completion of a prison sentence.