Mental wellbeing, but not prison climate, mediates the association between autistic traits and treatment readiness among men with sexual convictions
Journal article
Authors | Vinter, L. P., Harper, C. A., Dillon, G. and Winder, B. |
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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. |
Keywords | Autism; Neurodivergence; Sexual offending; Mental Wellbeing; Rehabilitation; Treatment readiness |
Year | 2024 |
Journal | Journal of Sexual Aggression |
Journal citation | pp. 1-17 |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
ISSN | 1742-6545 |
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 status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 22 Jul 2024 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 03 Jul 2024 |
Deposited | 23 Jul 2024 |
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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Accepted author manuscript
AAM_VinterHarperDillonWinder_ Journal of Sexual Aggression.docx | ||
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | ||
File access level: Open |
Publisher's version
Mental wellbeing but not prison climate mediates the association between autistic traits and treatment readiness among men with sexual convictions.pdf | ||
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | ||
File access level: Open |
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