Exercise has a history of alleviating depression, stress, and anxiety in various populations, but research into its effects on low-security prison inmates is limited. Inmates who were exercising or not exercising prior to the beginning of the study completed the Beck Depression Inventory II, Life Experiences Survey, and Daily Hassles Survey. Those who performed aerobic or anaerobic exercise scored significantly lower on the Beck Depression Inventory II and Life Experiences Survey than the inmates who did not exercise. Current charges were the only significant predictor of group membership. The authors conclude that the lower levels of depression, stress, and anxiety seen among the inmates suggest that exercise is a coping strategy to deal with incarceration.
Amtmann, J., Evans, R., & Powers, J. ( 2001). Measured and perceived effects of a correctional wellness program. Corrections Compendium, 26, 1-23.
2.
Arboleda-Florez, J., & Holley, H. ( 1989). Predicting suicide behaviours in incarcerated settings . Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 668-674.
3.
Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., Ball, R., & Ranieri, W.F. ( 1996). Comparison of Beck Depression Inventories: I A and II in psychiatric outpatients. Journal of Personality Assessment , 67, 588-597.
4.
Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erlbaugh, J. ( 1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561-571.
5.
Boothby, J.L., & Clements, C.B. (2000). A national survey of correctional psychologists. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 27, 716-732.
6.
Boothby, J.L., & Durham, T.W. ( 1999). Screening for depression in prisoners using the Beck Depression Inventory. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 26, 107-124.
7.
Brown, S.H., & Ireland, C.A. ( 2006). Coping style and distress in newly incarcerated male adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 656-661.
8.
Castellano, T.C., & Soderstrom, I.R. (1997). Self-esteem, depression, and anxiety evidenced by a prison inmate sample: Interrelationships and consequences for prison programming. The Prison Journal, 77, 259-280.
9.
Cooper, C., & Berwick, S. ( 2001). Factors affecting psychological well-being of three groups of suicide-prone prisoners. Current Psychology: Developmental, Learning, Personality, Social, 20, 169-182.
10.
Cooper, C., & Livingston, M. (1991). Depression and coping mechanisms in prisoners. Work & Stress, 5, 149-154.
11.
Crews, D.J., & Launders, D.M. (1987). A meta-analytic review of aerobic fitness and reactivity to psychosocial stressors. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 19, S114-S120.
12.
Daniel, A.E., & Fleming, J. ( 2005). Serious suicide attempts in a state correctional system and strategies to prevent suicide. Journal of Psychiatry and Law, 33, 227-247.
13.
Dixon, W.A., & Reid, J.K. ( 2000). Positive life events as a moderator of stress-related depressive symptoms. Journal of Counseling & Development , 78, 343-347.
14.
Dowden, C., Antonowicz, D., & Andrews, D.A. ( 2003). The effectiveness of relapse prevention with offenders: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 47, 516-528.
15.
Doyne, E.J., Ossip-Klein, D.J., & Bowman, E.D. ( 1987). Running versus weight lifting in the treatment of depression . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 748-754.
16.
DuRand, C.J., Burtka, G.E., Federman, E.J., & Haycox, J.A. ( 1995). A quarter century of suicide in a major urban jail: Implications for community psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 1077-1080.
17.
Fazel, S., & Danesh, J. ( 2002). Serious mental disorder in 23,000 prisoners: A systematic review of 62 surveys. Lancet, 359, 545-550.
18.
Folkins, C., & Slime, W. ( 1981). Physical fitness training and mental health. American Psychologist, 36, 373-389.
19.
Fredrikson, M., & Matthews, K.A. (1990). Cardiovascular responses to behavioral stress and hypertension: A meta-analytic review. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 12, 30-39.
20.
Hankin, B.L., Abramson, L.Y., Miller, N., & Haeffel, G.J. ( 2004). Cognitive vulnerability-stress theories of depression: Examining affective specificity in the prediction of depression versus anxiety in three prospective studies. Cognitive Therapy and Research , 28, 309-345.
21.
Kanner, A.D., Coyne, J.C., Schaefer, C., & Lazarus, R.S. ( 1981). Comparison of two modes of stress management: Daily hassles vs. major life events. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4, 1-39.
22.
Kiely, J., & Hodgson, G. ( 1990). Stress in the prison service: The benefits of exercise programs. Human Relations, 43, 551-572.
23.
Lindquist, C.A., & Whitehead, J.T. (1986). Burnout, job stress and job satisfaction among southern correctional officers: Perceptions and causal factors. Journal of Offender Counseling, Services, & Rehabilitation , 10, 5-26.
24.
Maden, A., Chamberlain, M., & Gunn, J. ( 2000). Deliberate self-harm in sentenced male prisoners in England and Wales: Some ethnic factors. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 10, 199-204.
25.
Mills, J.F., & Kroner, D.G. ( 2005). Screening for suicide risk factors in prison inmates: Evaluating the efficiency of the depression, hopelessness, and suicide screening form (DHS). Legal and Criminological Psychology, 10, 1-12.
26.
Norvell, N., & Belles, D. ( 1993). Psychological and physical benefits of circuit weight training in law enforcement personnel. Journal of Consulting and Clinical psychology, 61, 520-527.
27.
Nouri, S., & Beer, S. ( 1989). Relations of moderate physical exercise to scores on hostility, aggression, and trait-anxiety. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 68, 1191-1194.
28.
Palmer, E.J., & Connelly, R. ( 2005). Depression, hopelessness and suicide ideation among vulnerable prisoners. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 15, 164-170.
29.
Peters, R.H., & Schonfeld, L. ( 1993). Determinants of recent substance abuse among jail inmates referred for treatment. Journal of Drug Issues, 23, 101-117.
30.
Sarason, I.G., Johnson, J.H., & Siegel, J.M. ( 1978). Assessing the impact of life changes: Development of the life experiences survey. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 690-696.
31.
Sidney, K.H., & Jette, M. ( 1987). Attitudinal changes of correctional service officers following an on-site physical exercise program. Canadian Journal of Sport Sciences, 12, 83-90.
32.
Silverman, M., & Vega, M. ( 1990). Reactions of prisoners to stress as a function of personality and demographic variables. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 34, 187-196.
33.
Sonstroem, R., & Morgan, W. ( 1989). Exercise and self-esteem: Rational and model. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 21, 329-337.
34.
Spalding, T.W., Lyon, L.A., Steel, D.H., & Hatfield, B.D. (2004). Aerobic exercise training and cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress in sedentary young normotensive men and women. Psychophysiology, 41, 552-562.
35.
Strawbridge, W.J., Deleger, S., Roberts, R.E., & Kaplan, G.A. ( 2002). Physical activity reduces the risk of subsequent depression for older adults. American Journal of Epidemiology, 156, 328-334.
36.
Tucker, L. ( 1982). Weight training experience and psychological well-being . Perceptual and Motor Skills, 55, 553-554.
37.
van Gool, C.H., Kempen, G.I.J.M., Bosma, H., van Boxtel, M.P.J., Julles, J., & van Eijk, J.T.M. (2006). Associations between lifestyle and depressed mood: Longitudinal results from the Maastricht aging study. American Journal of Public Health, 97, 887-894.
38.
Wagoner, M., McBride, R.E., & Crouse, S.F. ( 1999). The effects of weight-training exercise on aggression variables in adult male inmates. The Prison Journal, 79, 72-89.
