Comparison of the Life Experiences and Personal Functioning of Men and Women in Prison

Although some researchers have studied backgrounds and needs of persons who are incarcerated, few investigators have examined the multiple occurrence of these life factors within the same sample and even fewer have compared the differences between men and women on these variables. The author examined differences between 81 incarcerated men and women in the history and seventy of substance abuse, family-of-origin factors, previous abuse and neglect, and current personal functioning. Results indicated that although the women consistently had more problems in these areas than did their male counterparts, male respondents also displayed a significant need for services. Recommendations for relevant programming for both incarcerated men and women are presented, and the role of social work in effective service delivery is discussed.

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