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Correlates of suicidal ideation in incarcerated offenders : a pilot study in three Belgian prisons

Ciska Wittouck (UGent) , Louis Favril (UGent) , Gwendolyn Portzky (UGent) , Freya Vander Laenen (UGent) , Frédéric Declercq (UGent) and Kurt Audenaert (UGent)
Author
Organization
Abstract
Purpose: This pilot study aimed to investigate the correlates of suicidal ideation in offenders incarcerated in three Belgian prisons. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional questionnaire design was used. Sixty 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 focusing 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 focusing on suicidality in prisoners. Furthermore, the examination of suicidal ideation in prison settings has received relatively scant attention in international research.
Keywords
suicide, suicidal ideation, offenders, prisoners, Belgium, diathesis-stress, pilot

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MLA
Wittouck, Ciska, et al. “Correlates of Suicidal Ideation in Incarcerated Offenders : A Pilot Study in Three Belgian Prisons.” JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 6, no. 4, 2016, pp. 187–201, doi:10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0009.
APA
Wittouck, C., Favril, L., Portzky, G., Vander Laenen, F., Declercq, F., & Audenaert, K. (2016). Correlates of suicidal ideation in incarcerated offenders : a pilot study in three Belgian prisons. JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY, 6(4), 187–201. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0009
Chicago author-date
Wittouck, Ciska, Louis Favril, Gwendolyn Portzky, Freya Vander Laenen, Frédéric Declercq, and Kurt Audenaert. 2016. “Correlates of Suicidal Ideation in Incarcerated Offenders : A Pilot Study in Three Belgian Prisons.” JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY 6 (4): 187–201. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0009.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Wittouck, Ciska, Louis Favril, Gwendolyn Portzky, Freya Vander Laenen, Frédéric Declercq, and Kurt Audenaert. 2016. “Correlates of Suicidal Ideation in Incarcerated Offenders : A Pilot Study in Three Belgian Prisons.” JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY 6 (4): 187–201. doi:10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0009.
Vancouver
1.
Wittouck C, Favril L, Portzky G, Vander Laenen F, Declercq F, Audenaert K. Correlates of suicidal ideation in incarcerated offenders : a pilot study in three Belgian prisons. JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY. 2016;6(4):187–201.
IEEE
[1]
C. Wittouck, L. Favril, G. Portzky, F. Vander Laenen, F. Declercq, and K. Audenaert, “Correlates of suicidal ideation in incarcerated offenders : a pilot study in three Belgian prisons,” JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 187–201, 2016.
@article{8044274,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: This pilot study aimed to investigate the correlates of suicidal ideation in offenders incarcerated in three Belgian prisons.
Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional questionnaire design was used. Sixty 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 focusing 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 focusing on suicidality in prisoners. Furthermore, the examination of suicidal ideation in prison settings has received relatively scant attention in international research.}},
  author       = {{Wittouck, Ciska and Favril, Louis and Portzky, Gwendolyn and Vander Laenen, Freya and Declercq, Frédéric and Audenaert, Kurt}},
  issn         = {{2009-3829}},
  journal      = {{JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY}},
  keywords     = {{suicide,suicidal ideation,offenders,prisoners,Belgium,diathesis-stress,pilot}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{187--201}},
  title        = {{Correlates of suicidal ideation in incarcerated offenders : a pilot study in three Belgian prisons}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-03-2016-0009}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}

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