Date of Completion
12-12-2016
Embargo Period
12-1-2016
Advisors
Lisa Barry, Richard Fortinsky, Dorothy Wakefield
Field of Study
Public Health
Degree
Master of Public Health
Open Access
Open Access
Abstract
Inmates age 50 and older are the fastest growing segment of the prison population. Because the majority of inmates return to the community, adequate self-care is essential for managing their overall health. Studies among older community-living persons indicate that emotional support is associated with improved efficacy for managing one’s health (e.g., health related self-efficacy). Data collected from the “Physical Functioning and Mental Health of Older Prisoners” study were analyzed to determine if emotional support is associated with health-related self-efficacy among older inmates in Connecticut. Even after controlling for demographic, incarceration and clinical/behavioral factors, older inmates reporting lower levels of emotional support were more likely to have poor health related self-efficacy. This relationship did not differ by gender. Identifying factors associated with poor health related self-efficacy in the older inmate population may inform the development of interventions focused on maximizing health related self-efficacy in this vulnerable population.
Recommended Citation
Steciak-Noujaim, Deborah N., "The Relationship Between Emotional Support and Health Related Self-Efficacy in Older Inmates" (2016). Master's Theses. 1026.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/1026
Major Advisor
Lisa Barry