Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in Prison

Abstract

Recent qualitative studies have highlighted posttraumatic growth as a profound change in offenders’ self-perception, relationship qualities, purposes, and meaning in life. We examined coping strategies as possible predictors of posttraumatic growth during incarceration in a sample of 365 prisoners. Coping strategies such as seeking emotional support, religious coping, and searching for meaning predicted posttraumatic growth in a positive way. Psychotherapy and chaplaincy were associated with higher levels of posttraumatic growth. Behavioral disengagement predicted posttraumatic growth in a negative way.