Exercise and the Low-Security Inmate

Abstract

Exercise has a history of alleviating depression, stress, and anxiety in various populations, but research into its effects on low-security prison inmates is limited. Inmates who were exercising or not exercising prior to the beginning of the study completed the Beck Depression Inventory II, Life Experiences Survey, and Daily Hassles Survey. Those who performed aerobic or anaerobic exercise scored significantly lower on the Beck Depression Inventory II and Life Experiences Survey than the inmates who did not exercise. Current charges were the only significant predictor of group membership. The authors conclude that the lower levels of depression, stress, and anxiety seen among the inmates suggest that exercise is a coping strategy to deal with incarceration.