CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM AS PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG INMATES IN KEFFI CORRECTIONAL CENTRE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the role of correctional environment and self-esteem aspredictors of psychological distress among inmates in the Keffi Correctional Custodial Centre,Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 250 inmates (200 males and 50 females) participated in theresearch, with validated scales used to assess their perceptions of the correctional environment,levels of self-esteem, and psychological distress. The study employed a survey design withpurposive sampling to select participants from both convicted and awaiting trial inmates. Resultsrevealed that both correctional environment and self-esteem significantly influenced psychologicaldistress. Specifically, poor correctional conditions, including overcrowding and lack of mentalhealth resources, contributed to heightened levels of distress, with the correctional environmentexplaining 34.7% of the variance in psychological distress (R² = 0.347, ß = 0.456, p < .05).Additionally, lower self-esteem was identified as a crucial factor exacerbating psychologicaldistress, accounting for 46.3% of the variance in distress (R² = 0.463, ß = 0.467, p < .05). The jointinfluence of both correctional environment and self-esteem on psychological distress explained41% of the variance (R² = 0.410, ß = 0.344, p < .05). The findings underscored the necessity forcomprehensive policy reforms to improve the living conditions within correctional facilities andimplement self-esteem enhancement programs to mitigate psychological distress. Based on thesefindings, it was recommended that correctional institutions adopt policies aimed at improvingenvironmental factors, such as safety and emotional support, and provide inmates with mentalhealth services and programs designed to boost self-esteem. This study contributed to the broaderunderstanding of the psychosocial challenges faced by incarcerated individuals and called forsystemic changes in correctional policy and inmate rehabilitation strategies.