NCJ Number
58547
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
AFTER A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON LONELINESS AMONG INSTITUTIONALIZED INDIVIDUALS, RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF LONELINESS IN INMATES IN A LARGE CITY JAIL.
Abstract
BASED ON A LITERATURE REVIEW, LONELINESS IS GENERALLY PERCEIVED TO BE A PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DEBILITATING RESPONSE TO SEPARATION FROM FAMILIAR RELATIONSHIPS, EXPERIENCES, AND INTERESTS THAT NURTURE SELF-IDENTITY AND PROVIDE PLEASURE AND MEANING TO LIFE. LONELINESS IS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM AMONG INCARCERATED OFFENDERS WHO FORESEE EXTENDED OR UNCERTAIN PERIODS OF SEPARATION FROM HOME, FAMILY, AND A PERSONAL LIFESTYLE. THE HYPOTHESIS OF THE REPORTED STUDY WAS THAT WITHIN THE INMATE POPULATION AT THE RICHMOND (VA) CITY JAIL, THERE IS EXTREME LONELINESS. A STRATIFIED PROBABILITY SAMPLE OF 144 INMATES WAS DRAWN FROM A TOTAL POPULATION OF 671 INMATES. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 129 MEN AND 15 WOMEN. A PROFILE SUMMARY OF A SUBJECT WAS A YOUNG, BLACK, SINGLE MALE WITH A 10TH GRADE EDUCATION, WITH PROTESTANT OR NO RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE. LONELINESS SCORE AND CATHECTIC INVESTMENT SCORE WERE DETERMINED AND BASED ON A SCALE RANGE OF 5-25. THE LONELINESS SCORE FOR THE INMATES AVERAGED 18, WHICH BORDERED ON THE UPPER ONE-THIRD OF THE RANGE OF HIGH MODERATE TO SEVERE LONELINESS. THE MEAN CATHECTIC INVESTMENT SCORE FOR THE INMATES WAS 19, WHICH IS IN THE UPPER ONE-THIRD OF THE RANGE. THIS VALIDATES THE THEORY THAT THE GREATER THE INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE AND THINGS, THE GREATER THE LONELINESS UPON BEING SEPARATED FROM THEM. STUDIES PROVIDING INCREASED AWARENESS OF LONELINESS AMONG INMATES AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CRIPPLING EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECT OF LONELINESS SHOULD SPUR CORRECTIONS AUTHORITIES TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE IT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)