How Does Timing Affect Trauma Treatment for Women Who Are Incarcerated? An Empirical Analysis

Most women who are incarcerated have experienced sexual violence; difficulties adjusting to prison could interfere with women’s ability to benefit from trauma-focused therapy. Here, we explored whether therapeutic benefits of trauma treatment varied as a function of time since incarceration. Women (...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. VerfasserIn: Bridges, Ana J. (VerfasserIn)
Beteiligte: Baker, Danielle E. ; Chamberlain, Kaitlyn D. ; Hill, Morgan A. ; Hurd, Lauren E. ; Karlsson, Marie ; Zielinski, Melissa J.
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 2020
In: Criminal justice and behavior
Jahr: 2020, Band: 47, Heft: 6, Seiten: 631-648
Online-Zugang: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Schlagwörter:
PTSD
Incarcerated women
Sexual Abuse
Trauma
Treatment
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Most women who are incarcerated have experienced sexual violence; difficulties adjusting to prison could interfere with women’s ability to benefit from trauma-focused therapy. Here, we explored whether therapeutic benefits of trauma treatment varied as a function of time since incarceration. Women (N = 128) participated in an 8-week group treatment for sexual violence victimization while incarcerated in a community corrections center for nonviolent offenses. Ninety participants consented to the study and completed self-report questionnaires assessing internalizing symptoms (depression, posttraumatic stress, and shame) before and after treatment. Bivariate correlations revealed a significant negative association between time since incarceration and pretreatment depression but not posttraumatic symptoms or shame. Dependent-sample t tests revealed significant improvements from pretreatment to posttreatment in internalizing symptoms. Longer time since incarceration did not significantly predict internalizing symptoms after controlling for pretreatment symptom severity. Findings suggest trauma-focused treatments can be offered to women shortly after they are incarcerated.
ISSN:1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/0093854820903071