Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Mental Health, Physical Health, and Spirituality in Incarcerated Older Males

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the unique impact of adverse childhood experiences relative to self-reported well-being among older prisoners. This population has limited data about distal experiences impact proximal outcomes. Data used in this study involved a sample of N = 261 incarcerated men, aged 45 and older, who resided in state correctional facilities in Oklahoma. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine the association between adverse childhood experiences across physical, mental, and religious/spiritual engagement outcomes. After controlling for demographic variables including education, race, and criminal type, a significant unique association emerged between adverse childhood experience and self-reported feelings of loneliness (?=.11, p < .05). It appears that older male prisoners who exposed to a greater number of adverse life-experiences during childhood reported greater feelings of loneliness. An additional 34% of the variance in self-reported loneliness among older male prisoners was explained by exposure to adverse childhood experiences above-and-beyond demographic variables, self-reported physical and mental health, and religious/spiritual engagement. Findings from this study provide evidence-based support relative to the unique effect of childhood adversity on current feelings of loneliness among older male prisoners. Implications concerning study results will be further highlighted regarding how forensic psychologists, clinical social workers, case managers, and other correctional mental health practitioners can provide therapeutic interventions for older prisoners to help lessen cognitive rumination of adverse childhood experiences and enhance emotional well-being.