Mental wellbeing, but not prison climate, mediates the association between autistic traits and treatment readiness among men with sexual convictions

Journal article


Vinter, L. P., Harper, C. A., Dillon, G. and Winder, B. 2024. Mental wellbeing, but not prison climate, mediates the association between autistic traits and treatment readiness among men with sexual convictions. Journal of Sexual Aggression. pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2024.2378022
AuthorsVinter, L. P., Harper, C. A., Dillon, G. and Winder, B.
Abstract

Research suggests that autistic individuals have qualitatively unique experiences of prison social environments, and that these experiences may have implications for autistic prisoners’ mental wellbeing and engagement with offending behaviour interventions. However, this has yet to be quantitatively tested. Using a sample of 177 adult prisoners from two UK prisons that exclusively house individuals with sexual convictions, this study tested a hypothesised double-mediation model, to investigate associations between autistic traits and prisoners’ readiness to engage with treatment, and whether this was mediated by experiences of the prison social climate and mental wellbeing. Results indicated that prisoners with higher levels of autistic traits had poorer experiences of prison social climates, which, in turn, predicted higher levels of anxiety and depression, which subsequently predicted reduced level readiness to engage with offending behaviour interventions. Implications for research and practice are discussed, emphasising the need for increased autism-related awareness and support provisions in prisons.

KeywordsAutism; Neurodivergence; Sexual offending; Mental Wellbeing; Rehabilitation; Treatment readiness
Year2024
JournalJournal of Sexual Aggression
Journal citationpp. 1-17
PublisherTaylor & Francis
ISSN1742-6545
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2024.2378022
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2024.2378022
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online22 Jul 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted03 Jul 2024
Deposited23 Jul 2024
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https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/q744y/mental-wellbeing-but-not-prison-climate-mediates-the-association-between-autistic-traits-and-treatment-readiness-among-men-with-sexual-convictions

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