Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Massachusetts Correctional Facilities
The Prison Journal
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Date:
2007/06//
Pages:
254 - 268
Sources ID:
53731
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Mindfulness-based stress-reduction courses were offered in drug units in six Massachusetts Department of Corrections prisons. A total of 1,350 inmates completed the 113 courses. Evaluation assessments were held before and after each course, and highly significant pre- to post-course improvements were found on widely accepted self-report measures of hostility, self-esteem, and mood disturbance. Improvements for women were greater than those for men, and improvements were also greater for men in a minimum-security, pre-release facility than for those in four medium-security facilities. The results encourage further study and wider use of mindfulness-based stress reduction in correctional facilities.