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Abstract

This article examines the link between environmental congruence and symptoms of psychopathology among jail prisoners. Samples of New Jersey jail prisoners were administered instruments that measured environmental needs, perceived environmental resources, and symptoms of psychopathology. The needs and resources instruments were combined into a measure of environmental congruence and analyzed in conjunction with symptom scores. The results indicate that prisoners who have low environmental congruence, that is, expressed needs are not well matched by perceived resources, suffer from more extreme symptoms of psychological distress than do their counterparts, who enjoy relatively high congruence. This finding has several implications for environment-centered programs and research in jails.

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Environmental Congruence and Symptoms of Psychopathology

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