Incarceration related stressors among female inmates in Malaysia

Abstract

Imprisonment is associated with a range of adverse psychological consequences that may undermine inmates’ emotional well-being and adjustment during incarceration. Women in prison may experience particularly complex forms of distress due to separation from family, restricted autonomy, uncertainty about the future, and unresolved emotional burdens related to their past. This study examined the types of incarceration-related stressors experienced by female inmates in a prison located in the southern region of Malaysia. A quantitative descriptive survey design was employed, and 123 female inmates participated in the study. Data were collected using the Prison Stress Scale (PS Scale) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means, frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations. The findings indicated that the most salient stressors experienced by the inmates were missing family or friends, concerns about the future, regrets about the past, and missing freedom. Overall, the respondents reported a moderately high level of stress during incarceration. These findings underscore the emotional and psychosocial burden of imprisonment among women and provide useful insights for prison authorities, counselors, and mental health practitioners in designing appropriate intervention and support programmes to enhance the psychological well-being of female inmates.