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Are Older Males in Prison Satisfied with Their Quality of Life and Wellbeing

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Are Older Males in Prison Satisfied with Their Quality of Life and Wellbeing Understanding Older Male Prisoners’ Satisfaction with Quality of Life and Wellbeing Claire de Motte A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2015 Preface The researcher and participants share the common bonds of humanity. Prisoners are not numbers. They are living, breathing people with personalities, characteristics, likes, and dislikes. In the current penal climate, as more and more people are locked up all the time, this simple observation is all too often forgotten (Bosworth et al. 2005, p. 251) 2 Statement of Research Outputs The methodology from the programme of work presented in this thesis has been published as: De Motte, C. 2014. A Mixed-Methods Approach to Explore the Quality of Life and Experience of Older Male Prisoners in HMPS. Sage Research Methods Case, DOI: 10.4135/978144627305013500012. 3 Abstract This thesis is of originality and value as it is the first piece of research to explore whether older male prisoners are satisfied with quality of life (QoL) and wellbeing and if the most appropriate prison regime for an older prison population could be identified. The thesis offers the most recent insight into the experience of being older in prison across three prison regimes, high secure, training, and open. A mixed methodology explored older male prisoners’ satisfaction with QoL and wellbeing and is the first research study to adopt this approach with an older prison population. The mixed methodology consisted of two phases, the first phase, a quantitative questionnaire to assess QoL and wellbeing was circulated to all older male prisoners aged 50 years and over across three prison regimes. The quantitative results were then analysed via descriptive and inferential statistics. The second phase, qualitative interviews with older male prisoners and prison staff, explored their experiences of being older in prison and aspects of prison life that reduced and increased their satisfaction with QoL and wellbeing. Interviews were then analysed using thematic analysis. The main quantitative findings suggest older prisoners are more satisfied with their QoL and wellbeing in an open prison regime than training and high secure. The main qualitative findings illustrate aspects of humanity and the opportunity to promote positive identities contribute to a good QoL and high wellbeing in the older prison population. However, the experience of constraints within the prison regime limits older prisoners’ potential and subsequently reduces their satisfaction with QoL and wellbeing. These original findings are discussed in reference to previous academic literature on 4 older prisoners and recommendations for prison policy are made to ensure older male prisoners are located within an age appropriate prison regime that accentuates the positive aspects of being older in prison. 5 Table of Contents Preface .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Statement of Research Outputs ..................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... 6 List of Figures and Tables ............................................................................................................. 9 Statement of Copyright ............................................................................................................... 11 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 14 1.1 Wider Context: The Older Population .................................................................................. 14 1.2 Wider Context: Older Prisoners ............................................................................................ 15 1.3 Research Aim ........................................................................................................................ 19 1.4 Original Contribution ............................................................................................................ 20 1.5 The Structure of the Thesis ................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 2 Theoretical Context .................................................................................................... 24 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 The Philosophies of Kropotkin ............................................................................................. 25 2.3 The Notion of Flourishing .................................................................................................... 27 2.4 Model of Life Satisfaction .................................................................................................... 34 2.5 Chapter Summary ................................................................................................................. 37 Chapter 3 Literature Review ....................................................................................................... 39 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Satisfaction with QoL and Wellbeing ................................................................................... 39 3.2.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 46 6 3.3 Satisfaction with QoL and Wellbeing in Older Prisoners ..................................................... 47 3.4 Chapter Summary and Research Questions .......................................................................... 90 Chapter 4 Research Methodology ............................................................................................... 92 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 92 4.2 Pragmatism: a research paradigm ......................................................................................... 92 4.3 Method of Research Inquiry ................................................................................................. 96 4.4 Methods of Data Collection ................................................................................................ 109 4.5 Methods of Analysis ........................................................................................................... 131 4.6 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................... 135 Chapter 5 Ethical Considerations .............................................................................................. 136 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 136 5.2 Prison Research Ethics: A Brief Historical Context ........................................................... 136 5.3 Obtaining Ethical Approval ................................................................................................ 137 5.4 Ethical Dilemmas in Prison Research ................................................................................. 140 5.5 The Impact of a Female Researcher in a Male Prison …………………………………….148 5.6 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................... 150 Chapter 6 Quantitative Findings ............................................................................................... 151 6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 151 6.2 Demographic Information ................................................................................................... 152 6.3 The Subjective Wellbeing of Older Prisoners ..................................................................... 153 6.4 Older Prisoners Satisfaction with QoL ............................................................................... 160 6.5 Other variables that effect Older Prisoners Satisfaction with QoL ..................................... 181 6.6 The Internal Reliability of the MANSA ............................................................................. 196 6.7 Policy Implications: Improving Older Prisoners Satisfaction with QoL ............................ 198 6.8 Chapter Summary …………………………………………………………………………200 7 Chapter 7 Qualitative Findings ................................................................................................. 204 7.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 204 7.2 Humanity............................................................................................................................
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