Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support

Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh; Victor Okechukwu Odo; Michael Arinze Ezeh; Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11

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Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support

Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh, Victor Okechukwu Odo, Michael Arinze Ezeh, Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 5, Issue 5)

Received: 6 August 2016 Accepted: 18 August 2016 Published: 12 September 2016

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Abstract

This research examined the roles of loneliness and social support as predictors of psychological well-being in awaiting-trial inmates. Participants were 300 awaiting-trial inmates of Enugu Prison Command. There were 200 (73.33%) male inmates and 80 (26.66%) female inmates in the sample. Their ages ranged between 18 years and 69 years (Mean age = 43.50 years; Standard Deviation = 5.21). Purposive sampling method was adopted in the sample selection; and participation in the study was anonymous. Three instruments – the short-form University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale (ULS-8), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the psychological well-being scale (PWB-S), were used for data collection. Analysis of data was conducted with multiple regressions and correlations (MRC). Results showed that loneliness and social support were significant predictors of psychological well-being. The findings failed to confirm the first hypothesis, but confirmed the second hypothesis. Discussion highlighted the need to establish vocational training facilities and other social services in prisons to constructively engage prison inmates in meaningful tasks.

Published in	Social Sciences (Volume 5, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11
Page(s)	64-69
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Awaiting-Trial Inmates, Enugu Prison Command, Loneliness, Psychological Well-Being, Social Support

References

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Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh, Victor Okechukwu Odo, Michael Arinze Ezeh, Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah. (2016). Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support. Social Sciences, 5(5), 64-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11

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ACS Style

Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh; Victor Okechukwu Odo; Michael Arinze Ezeh; Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah. Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support. Soc. Sci. 2016, 5(5), 64-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11

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AMA Style

Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh, Victor Okechukwu Odo, Michael Arinze Ezeh, Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah. Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support. Soc Sci. 2016;5(5):64-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11,
  author = {Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh and Victor Okechukwu Odo and Michael Arinze Ezeh and Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah},
  title = {Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {5},
  number = {5},
  pages = {64-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20160505.11},
  abstract = {This research examined the roles of loneliness and social support as predictors of psychological well-being in awaiting-trial inmates. Participants were 300 awaiting-trial inmates of Enugu Prison Command. There were 200 (73.33%) male inmates and 80 (26.66%) female inmates in the sample. Their ages ranged between 18 years and 69 years (Mean age = 43.50 years; Standard Deviation = 5.21). Purposive sampling method was adopted in the sample selection; and participation in the study was anonymous. Three instruments – the short-form University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale (ULS-8), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the psychological well-being scale (PWB-S), were used for data collection. Analysis of data was conducted with multiple regressions and correlations (MRC). Results showed that loneliness and social support were significant predictors of psychological well-being. The findings failed to confirm the first hypothesis, but confirmed the second hypothesis. Discussion highlighted the need to establish vocational training facilities and other social services in prisons to constructively engage prison inmates in meaningful tasks.},
 year = {2016}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support
AU - Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh
AU - Victor Okechukwu Odo
AU - Michael Arinze Ezeh
AU - Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah
Y1 - 2016/09/12
PY - 2016
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11
DO - 10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11
T2 - Social Sciences
JF - Social Sciences
JO - Social Sciences
SP - 64
EP - 69
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2326-988X
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11
AB - This research examined the roles of loneliness and social support as predictors of psychological well-being in awaiting-trial inmates. Participants were 300 awaiting-trial inmates of Enugu Prison Command. There were 200 (73.33%) male inmates and 80 (26.66%) female inmates in the sample. Their ages ranged between 18 years and 69 years (Mean age = 43.50 years; Standard Deviation = 5.21). Purposive sampling method was adopted in the sample selection; and participation in the study was anonymous. Three instruments – the short-form University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale (ULS-8), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the psychological well-being scale (PWB-S), were used for data collection. Analysis of data was conducted with multiple regressions and correlations (MRC). Results showed that loneliness and social support were significant predictors of psychological well-being. The findings failed to confirm the first hypothesis, but confirmed the second hypothesis. Discussion highlighted the need to establish vocational training facilities and other social services in prisons to constructively engage prison inmates in meaningful tasks.
VL - 5
IS - 5
ER -

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Author Information

Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh

Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Victor Okechukwu Odo

Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Michael Arinze Ezeh

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Renaissance University, Enugu, Nigeria
Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah

Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

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Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh, Victor Okechukwu Odo, Michael Arinze Ezeh, Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah. (2016). Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support. Social Sciences, 5(5), 64-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11

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ACS Style

Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh; Victor Okechukwu Odo; Michael Arinze Ezeh; Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah. Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support. Soc. Sci. 2016, 5(5), 64-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11

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AMA Style

Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh, Victor Okechukwu Odo, Michael Arinze Ezeh, Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah. Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support. Soc Sci. 2016;5(5):64-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11,
  author = {Philip Chukwuemeka Mefoh and Victor Okechukwu Odo and Michael Arinze Ezeh and Linda Ekwutosi Ezeah},
  title = {Psychological Well-Being in Awaiting-Trial Inmates: The Roles of Loneliness and Social Support},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {5},
  number = {5},
  pages = {64-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20160505.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20160505.11},
  abstract = {This research examined the roles of loneliness and social support as predictors of psychological well-being in awaiting-trial inmates. Participants were 300 awaiting-trial inmates of Enugu Prison Command. There were 200 (73.33%) male inmates and 80 (26.66%) female inmates in the sample. Their ages ranged between 18 years and 69 years (Mean age = 43.50 years; Standard Deviation = 5.21). Purposive sampling method was adopted in the sample selection; and participation in the study was anonymous. Three instruments – the short-form University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale (ULS-8), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and the psychological well-being scale (PWB-S), were used for data collection. Analysis of data was conducted with multiple regressions and correlations (MRC). Results showed that loneliness and social support were significant predictors of psychological well-being. The findings failed to confirm the first hypothesis, but confirmed the second hypothesis. Discussion highlighted the need to establish vocational training facilities and other social services in prisons to constructively engage prison inmates in meaningful tasks.},
 year = {2016}
}

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