Skip to main content
Log in

The needs of prisoners' wives: A challenge for the mental health professions

  • Articles
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This research assessed the needs of prisoner's wives in six areas (information, finances, relationships with friends, family relationships, grief, and relationships with children) and determined if stage of separation or previous experience with the correctional system affected those needs. High levels of need were found in each area. Women in the initial stage of separation had significantly greater need for information than women in the pre-reunion stage, but prior experience with the correctional system did not predict needs. Results suggest giving more information to the women at the time of their husbands' trials and the formation of self-help groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, N.N. Prisoners' families: A study of family crisis. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota, 1966.

  • Barrett, C. J. Women in widowhood.Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 1977,2, 856–868.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell, J. E. The effect of involuntary separation on selected families of men committed to prison from Spokane County Washington. Doctoral dissertation, State College of Washington, 1959.

  • Bloodgood, R.The welfare of prisoners: Families in Kentucky. U.S. Department of Labor, Children's Bureau, Bureau Publication No. 182, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deasy, L. C. & Quinn, O. W.: The wife of the mental patient and the hospital psychiatrist.Journal of Social Issues 1955,11, 49–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duvall, E. M. Loneliness and the serviceman's wife.Marriage and Family Living, 1945,7, 77–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A. L.Experimental design in psychological research New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, A. S., Bullard, D. M., & Solomon, M. H. The family as a potential resource in the rehabilitation of the chronic schizophrenic patient: A study of 60 patients and their families.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1961,117, 1075–1083.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenton, N.The prisoner's family Palo Alto, California: Pacific Books, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goode, W. J. Economic factors and marital stability.American Sociological Review, 1951,16, 802–812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, R.Families under stress. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, V.S. & Zeichner, A.M. Impact of admission to a mental hospital on the patient's family.Mental Hygiene, 1960,44, 503–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, H. I., Dahl, B. B., Lester, G. R., & Ross, B. A. The returned prisoner of war: Factors in family reintegration.Journal of Marriage and the Family, August, 1975,37(3), 471–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, H.I. Hunter, E.J., & Dahl, B.B. Residuals of war: Families of prisoners of war and servicemen missing in action.Journal of Social Issues, 1975,31, (4), 95–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, P..Prisoners and their families. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkes, C. M.Bereavement. New York: International Universities Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roney, J. L. Special stresses on low-income families.Social Casework, 1958,39, 150–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, M. Emotional aspects of wartime separations.The Family January, 1944,24, 337–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneller, D. P. Some social and psychological effects of incarceration on the families of Negro prisoners.American Journal of Corrections, January–February, 1975, 29–33.

  • Schwartz, M. C. & Weintraub, J. F. The prisoner's wife: A study of crisis.Federal Probation Quarterly. March, 1974,38(1), 20–26.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This article is based on the Master's Thesis research of the first author, which was suppervised by the second author.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Daniel, S.W., Barrett, C.J. The needs of prisoners' wives: A challenge for the mental health professions. Community Ment Health J 17, 310–322 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00779387

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00779387

Keywords

Navigation