Physical and social sleep environment of a women's prison: A qualitative exploration

The physical and social environments of correctional facilities impact the health of incarcerated women. Research indicates that sleep hygiene, which is critical to physical and mental health, deteriorates when people are incarcerated. However, this research is primarily quantitative and drawn from men's experiences.

The objective of this analysis is to use qualitative data to build knowledge about the physical and social sleep environment of a women's prison.

Nine individual interviews and one focus group, with four participants, were conducted with formerly incarcerated women. All the women had been incarcerated in the same state carceral institution for women located in the southeast region of the United States. These semi-structured interviews asked women to describe their daily habits, behaviors, and practices while incarcerated. Their responses included detail about the sleep environment. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded in Dedoose. Topical and thematic analysis of the women's narratives was conducted.

Findings describe the prison's physical and social sleep environment. These narratives explore the role of peer and staff interactions, lighting, schedules, and norms on women's sleep behaviors.

Findings build knowledge about prison's physical and social environments that can inform carceral policy and health interventions with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. The narratives invite dialogue about how changes in carceral practices and facilities could improve women's sleep habits and behaviors. Findings encourage more education about sleep hygiene for incarcerated women and correctional staff. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of prison on women's sleep behaviors and health outcomes.