TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the correlates of suicidal ideation in offenders incarcerated in three Belgian prisons.Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional questionnaire design was used. In total, 60 participants were recruited from three Belgian prisons. In addition to a questionnaire regarding demographic, social, institutional, and criminological factors, validated self-report instruments of psychological and psychiatric variables (coping, hopelessness, and depressive symptomatology) were administered. Associations with suicidal ideation were tested using regression analysis.Findings Coping style, life events, and social support were most strongly associated with suicidal ideation in prisoners. In particular, a passive coping style, feelings of loneliness, and the loss of a significant other contributed most to the presence of suicidal ideation, whereas a close partner relationship constituted a protective factor of suicidal thoughts.Research limitations/implications This pilot study used a convenience sampling strategy, prone to sampling bias. Additionally, given the small sample size, results must be interpreted with caution, as they might not be representative of the general population of prisoners in Belgium.Practical implications Interventions focussing on improving coping skills and social support and on impeding the availability and accessibility of suicide methods are promising suicide prevention strategies in custodial settings.Originality/value To date, no studies have been conducted in Belgium focussing on suicidality in prisoners. Furthermore, the examination of suicidal ideation in prison settings has received relatively scant attention in international research.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
SN  - 2009-3829
DO  - 10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0009
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0009
AU  - Wittouck Ciska
AU  - Favril Louis
AU  - Portzky Gwendolyn
AU  - Vander Laenen Freya
AU  - Declercq Frédéric
AU  - Audenaert Kurt
PY  - 2016
Y1  - 2016/01/01
TI  - Correlates of suicidal ideation in incarcerated offenders: a pilot study in three Belgian prisons
T2  - Journal of Criminal Psychology
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 187
EP  - 201
Y2  - 2024/04/24
ER  -