STRESS APPRAISAL AND RELATED NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES OF FEMALES LIVING IN PRISON

Abstract

Objectives: the study amid at exploring the relationship between stress appraisal and related negative emotional experiences of females living in prison. Further research also determine how stress appraisal and anger predicts shame and guilt in females and to explore difference between stress appraisal and related negative emotions experienced by females living in prison.

Design of the study: Current study employed correlational research design. 

Place and Duration: Present research was conducted at Central Jail Kot Lakhpat, Lahore Pakistan. Data was collected from June to July in the year 2017.    

Subjects and Method: The sample incorporated of 135 “females aged between 20-55 years” (M=35.75, SD. =9.54) detainees was drawn from Central Jail Kot Lakhpat, Lahore Pakistan through purposive sampling technique. Stress Appraisal Measure-SAM, Anger Expression Scale-AES, and State Shame & Guilt Scale (SSGS) were administered for data collection.

Results and Conclusion: Results showed significant association between stress appraisal, anger, shame, and guilt in female living in prison. Findings demonstrated that stress appraisal, externalizing, and internalizing anger were also significant predictors of shame and guilt in females. In addition, anger control was negative predictors of shame and guilt in females living in prison. Independent sample t-test explored that under trial females had less stress appraisal than convicted females. Moreover, results depicted that convicted females had more internalized anger than under trial females. Female inmates with family crime history had greater anger inward and anger control. Implication and suggestions for future research have been given.