Exploring Factors Related to Well-Being Among Incarcerated Women: Hope, Shame, and Adverse Childhood Experiences

Abstract

Incarceration rates among females have significantly increased in the United States over the past 40 years. Studies have documented how trauma, economic vulnerability, and mental illness may amplify psychological distress for women who are incarcerated. However, little research exists on the relationships between hope, shame, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and well-being among incarcerated women. To explore the relationship of these variables with well-being, data from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections was analyzed. A strong positive correlation between hope and flourishing was found with hope serving as the stronger predictor of hope within the model. Shame was found to have a moderate negative correlation with flourishing. The model was statistically significant and accounted for 41.7% of the variance in flourishing. Overall, this study contributes to the current body of research emphasizing the importance of hope in overall flourishing with shame serving as a potential barrier to well-being.