Prison Visitation and Mental Health in Detained Young Adults

Theory and research indicate that the maintenance of interpersonal relationships with family and friends can improve the well-being and behavior of detained persons. However, receiving visits in prison may also increase stress and anxiety, thereby negatively affecting adjustment to prison life. Based on a sample of 75 young adult males in Portugal who were evaluated at the 1st, 3 rd, and 6 th month after entry in prison, the present study explored the reciprocal relationship between visitation and mental health, as well as the longitudinal course of visitation rates during incarceration and individual characteristics associated with receiving visits. Regression analyses revealed that the number of visits declined over the first six months in the institution. Prison visits were positively related to a lower educational level, Portuguese nationality, mental treatment history, and a less developed criminal history. In addition, a higher level of mental health symptoms was associated with more subsequent prison visits in the first three months in prison, but visits were not associated with subsequent mental health symptoms. The results of this study suggest that detained young adults presenting a higher level of mental health symptoms may be more likely to be visited by their family and friends during the initial period of incar- ceration.