Subjective Well-Being and Recidivism in Forensic Psychiatric Outpatients

Abstract

In community-based forensic psychiatry, subjective well-being (SWB) is rarely considered as an explicit treatment target. According to the General Strain Theory and the Good Lives Model, a negative relationship between SWB and re-offending in personality-disordered patients can be hypothesized. In a multi-center, prospective study, the short-term effect of SWB on self-reported criminal offending behavior over a three-month period was explored. SWB was also related to official recidivism data over a follow-up period of three years. Overall SWB and satisfaction with health and finances predicted recidivism to a moderate degree. Furthermore, creating a meaningful life was negatively related to recidivism. For patients with a high risk level, SWB with health buffered self-reported re-offending; this effect was not found in relation to official reconvictions. The protective effect of positive SWB in reducing both short-term and long-term criminal behavior in forensic psychiatric outpatients merits further attention in community-based forensic psychiatric treatment.