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Published on: December 14, 2020
A study of sleep in northern New England correctional facilities
Adam J Sorscher1, William Crockatt2, Danielle Glinka Johnston2
1Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA; Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
Study Objectives:
This study explored inmates' sleep at two detention facilities in northern New England.
Methods:
We randomly distributed a sleep/demographic questionnaire and the insomnia severity index (ISI) to 140 (35%) inmates at a Vermont (VT) state prison and a New Hampshire (NH) county jail. We also conducted brief semistructured interviews with 23 inmates to explore their sleep experience while incarcerated.
Results:
Sixty-four/one hundred forty (46%) of the inmates completed both surveys. The average ISI score of the inmates was 15.4. 37/64 (58%) of respondents reported severe insomnia symptoms (ISI ≥ 15), In qualitative interviews, inmates most consistently cited physical conditions, especially uncomfortable bedding as the chief obstacle to good sleep.
Conclusions:
Both the quantitative ISI survey and the qualitative interview data document high rates of insomnia complaints in a VT state prison and NH county jail. Inmates most frequently cited poor bedding as the chief obstacle to good sleep.
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