Coping strategies as a Predictor of Psychological well-Being of Convicted and Unconvicted Female Prisoners

Abstract

The present research aimed to investigate the coping strategies as a predictor of psychological well-being between convicted and unconvicted female prisoners. For this study three hypotheses were tested. First hypothesis stated that coping strategies would significantly predict psychological well-being of convicted and unconvicted female prisoners. Second hypothesis stated that, there would be a significant difference between psychological well-being of convicted and unconvicted female prisoners and lastly, there would be a significant difference between coping strategies of convicted and unconvicted female prisoners. For this study, purposive sampling was employed to gather data of 48 female prisoners from two different women prisons in Sindh, Pakistan. Age range of participants in the sample varied from 20 — 55 Participants responded to coping strategy inventory and scale of psychological well being which includes Urdu translated versions of Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale (Riaz & Agha, 2012) and Ryff s Scale of Psychological well-being (Aslam & Kausar, 2010). Results partially verified first and third hypotheses and showed active coping, positive reframing, acceptance, substance use, venting, religion and behavioral disengagement coping strategies as a predictor of psychological well-being of female prisoners. Furthermore, results showed significant difference between convicted and unconvicted female prisoners on the emotional support coping strategy. However, outcomes did not verify second hypothesis. Furthermore, limitation of present study includes small sample size. Therefore, it is recommended to increase sample size and collect data from more women jails in Pakistan, to make results generalizable.