Peer-reviewed article
Forgotten Variables and Incarcerated Males
Randall G, Bishop A ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed study examines the relationship between childhood experiences, religiosity, and mental health outcomes in 261 incarcerated males aged 45-82. The research uses path analysis to test whether forgiveness of self and social provisions mediate the relationship between childhood life events and adult religiosity. The findings suggest religiosity may help mitigate mental health challenges in this population, and that childhood adversity influences later outcomes through mechanisms of self-forgiveness and social connection.
Key points
- Sample consisted of 261 older male inmates, ages 45-82
- Religiosity (both public attendance and private activities) was associated with better mental health outcomes
- Negative childhood life events were linked to later incarceration
- The relationship between childhood events and adult religiosity was mediated by self-forgiveness and social provisions
- Age, race, and education were controlled for in the analysis
Limitations
This study focuses on older incarcerated males and cannot establish causation. The reliance on self-report data from a single demographic group limits generalizability to broader populations and younger age groups.
Abstract
Abstract Religiosity tends to mitigate mental health challenges for incarcerated males. Further, negative life events experienced during childhood tend to exacerbate young adult challenges, resulting in incarceration. The current study, based on Koenig (2015) and the Developmental Adaptation Model (DAM; Martin & Martin, 2002), used self-report data from 261 older male inmates, ages 45-82 (M=57.59; SD =8.41) to test a path analytic model regressing religiosity (public religious attendance and private activities) on to known correlates and antecedents. Nested model testing found that the association between self-reported life events experienced as a child and later life religiosity was mediated by forgiveness of self and social provisions, controlling for age, race, and education (IE = -.014; p=.03, one-tail). Distal and proximal assessments influenced religiosity in this sample. Future research will want to explore assessing religiosity and possible therapeutic interventions relative to childhood difficulties and forgiveness of self for incarcerated males.