Psychological distress in an incarcerated juvenile population
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
114
Journal Issue
11
Pages
1076-1081
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Lyu S.-Y.
Chi Y.-C.
Farabee D.
Tsai L.-T.
MING-BEEN LEE
Lo F.-E.
Morisky D.E.
Abstract
Background/Purpose: This study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among incarcerated youth in Taiwan using the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5). Methods: This cross-sectional census survey study was conducted in 2007 among all the juveniles incarcerated in 23 correctional institutions (n = 1505) in Taiwan using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Of the total 1505 participants, 1363 completed the questionnaire (91% response rate). We excluded 494 participants as they were aged either over 17 years or under 12 years. Psychological distress was measured among the final 869 participants using the BSRS-5. Psychological distress was defined as a total score of at least 6 out of 20. Those identified as having psychological distress were then pooled into a case group and compared with control participants without psychological distress. Results: The prevalence of psychological distress was 44.1%. Among the case group, sleep disturbance (36.8%) had the highest prevalence of severe or very severe symptoms, followed by depression (34.7%), and hostility (27.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that correlates of psychological distress included the following: being female; having a poor self-rated health status; having joined a gang; having experienced life disturbances prior to the current imprisonment; and having ever had a smoking habit. Conclusion: Significant sex differences were found for both the overall BSRS-5, as well as for each individual item of the BSRS-5. Treatment programs and interventions should be carefully tailored to address the mental health needs of juvenile inmates in a sex-specific manner using a multifaceted approach. ? 2014.
Subjects
Incarcerated population; Juvenile; Psychological distress
SDGs
Other Subjects
adolescent; anxiety; Article; assessment of humans; brief symptom rating scale; cross-sectional study; depression; disease severity; distress syndrome; emotion; female; gang; health status; health survey; hostility; human; inferiority; life disturbance; major clinical study; male; mental health; morbidity; personal experience; prison; prisoner; self concept; sex difference; sleep disorder; smoking habit; Taiwan; child; depression; hostility; juvenile delinquency; mental stress; multivariate analysis; prisoner; psychological rating scale; psychology; questionnaire; risk factor; Sleep Wake Disorders; statistical model; Adolescent; Anxiety; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Female; Health Status; Hostility; Humans; Juvenile Delinquency; Logistic Models; Male; Mental Health; Multivariate Analysis; Prisoners; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Sleep Wake Disorders; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taiwan
Type
journal article