Unmasking negative affect in older incarcerated individuals with varying criminal histories

Although older individuals are believed to have better emotional regulation than their counterparts, limited attention has been given to the nonclinical dimensions of incarcerated individuals' well-being. The present study contributes to the research by evaluating the differences in subjective well-being for those incarcerated for the first time and those habitually reincarcerated across age groups.

Using the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates, we examined the differences in well-being across age and criminal history using three distinct age groups. Well-being, or negative affect, was measured through six self-report items. Ordinal regressions were then used to evaluate the relationship between negative affect and the age groups.

Consistent with prior research, individuals aged 50+ were less likely to feel "nervous, restless, and think that everything felt like an effort"; however, they were significantly more likely to report feelings of worthlessness. The study also identified negative feelings were less pronounced among first-time older incarcerated individuals than among those with longer incarceration histories.

The current study provided further extension in understanding the age-related and criminal history-related differences in emotional functioning and adjustment. The findings suggested that criminal history and age are distinct yet interrelated factors impairing incarcerated individuals' mental health.