IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/eujoag/v15y2018i2d10.1007_s10433-017-0443-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Identity as an older prisoner: findings from a qualitative study in Switzerland

Author

Listed:
  • Sophie Haesen

    (University of Basel)

  • Tenzin Wangmo

    (University of Basel)

  • Bernice S. Elger

    (University of Basel)

Abstract

The increasing numbers of aging prisoners raise the issue of how they maintain their personal identity and self-esteem in light of long-standing detention. This study sought to answer this question since identity and self-esteem could influence mental and physical health. We conducted a secondary analysis of 35 qualitative interviews that were carried out with older inmates aged 51–75 years (mean age: 61 years) living in 12 Swiss prisons. We identified three main themes that characterized their identity: personal characterization of identity, occupational identity, and social identity. These main themes were divided into sub-themes such as familial network, retirement rights or subjective social position. Personal characterization of identity mostly happened through being part of a network of family and/or friends that supported them during imprisonment and where the prisoner could return to after release. Individual activities and behavior also played an important role for prisoners in defining themselves. Occupational identity was drawn from work that had been carried out either before or during imprisonment although in some cases the obligation to work in prison even after reaching retirement age was seen as a constraint. Social identity came from a role of mentor or counselor for younger inmates, and in a few cases older prisoners compared themselves to other inmates and perceived themselves as being in a higher social position. Identity was often expressed as a mix between positive and negative traits. Building on those elements during incarceration can contribute to better mental health of the individual prisoner which in turn influences the chances for successful rehabilitation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie Haesen & Tenzin Wangmo & Bernice S. Elger, 2018. "Identity as an older prisoner: findings from a qualitative study in Switzerland," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 199-210, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:15:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10433-017-0443-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-017-0443-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10433-017-0443-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10433-017-0443-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gerben J. Westerhof & Anne E. Barrett, 2005. "Age Identity and Subjective Well-Being: A Comparison of the United States and Germany," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 60(3), pages 129-136.
    2. Becca R. Levy & Martin D. Slade & Stanislav V. Kasl, 2002. "Longitudinal Benefit of Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging on Functional Health," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 57(5), pages 409-417.
    3. Giorgio Di Gessa & Karen Glaser & Anthea Tinker, 2016. "The Health Impact of Intensive and Nonintensive Grandchild Care in Europe: New Evidence From SHARE," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 71(5), pages 867-879.
    4. Søren Ventegodt & Hatim Omar & Joav Merrick, 2011. "Quality of Life as Medicine: Interventions that Induce Salutogenesis. A Review of the Literature," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 100(3), pages 415-433, February.
    5. Bernice Elger & Catherine Geohring & Sylvie Revaz & Alfredo Morabia, 2002. "Prescription of hypnotics and tranquilisers at the Geneva prison's outpatient service in comparison to an urban outpatient medical service," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 47(1), pages 39-43, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mikaela Backman & Johannes Hagen & Orsa Kekezi & Lucia Naldi & Tina Wallin, 2023. "In the Eye of the Storm: Entrepreneurs and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Crisis," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(3), pages 751-787, May.
    2. Mengtong Chen & Qiqi Chen & Camilla Kin Ming Lo & Susan J. Kelley & Ko Ling Chan & Patrick Ip, 2022. "Attitudes toward Grandparental Involvement in Hong Kong: A Trend Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Ellen Melbye Langballe & Vegard Skirbekk & Bjørn Heine Strand, 2023. "Subjective age and the association with intrinsic capacity, functional ability, and health among older adults in Norway," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Zhifei He & Zhaohui Cheng & Tian Shao & Chunyan Liu & Piaopiao Shao & Ghose Bishwajit & Da Feng & Zhanchun Feng, 2016. "Factors Influencing Health Knowledge and Behaviors among the Elderly in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Angie Hartnett & Catherine Gorman, 2022. "Active Leisure and Ageing in Rural Ireland: Exploring Perceptions and Motivations to Facilitate and Promote Meaningful Physical Activity," Academica Turistica - Tourism and Innovation Journal, University of Primorska Press, vol. 15(1), pages 65-80.
    6. Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan & Low, Timothy Qing Ying, 2021. "The situation and well-being of custodial grandparents in Myanmar: Impacts of adult children's cross-border and internal migration," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    7. E-Shien Chang & Sneha Kannoth & Samantha Levy & Shi-Yi Wang & John E Lee & Becca R Levy, 2020. "Global reach of ageism on older persons’ health: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-24, January.
    8. Bach Q. Ho & Kunio Shirahada, 2022. "Older People’s Knowledge Creation Motivations for Sustainable Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Wang, Shuhong & Li, Shengxiao (Alex) & Hu, Wanyang, 2022. "Grandparenting and subjective well-being in China: The moderating effects of residential location, gender, age, and income," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    10. Margie E Lachman & Stefan Agrigoroaei, 2010. "Promoting Functional Health in Midlife and Old Age: Long-Term Protective Effects of Control Beliefs, Social Support, and Physical Exercise," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(10), pages 1-9, October.
    11. Peter Eibich & Xianhua Zai, 2022. "Are the grandparents alright? The health consequences of grandparental childcare provision," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2022-023, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    12. Liping Fu & Yuhui Wang & Lanping He, 2020. "Factors Associated with the Psychological Health of Caregiving Older Parents and Support from Their Grown Children: Results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-11, January.
    13. Peter Eibich & Xianhua Zai, 2024. "Are the grandparents alright? The health consequences of grandparental childcare provision," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(4), pages 1-32, December.
    14. Wang, Lianjie & Tang, Yao, 2023. "Impacts of intergenerational caregiving on grandparents’ health: Implications for SDG-3," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 584-598.
    15. Giorgio Brunello & Lorenzo Rocco, 2019. "Grandparents in the blues. The effect of childcare on grandparents’ depression," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 587-613, June.
    16. Allyson Brothers & Martina Miche & Hans-Werner Wahl & Manfred Diehl, 2017. "Examination of Associations Among Three Distinct Subjective Aging Constructs and Their Relevance for Predicting Developmental Correlates," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(4), pages 547-560.
    17. Emma Nilsson & Helena Igelström & Irene Vikman & Agneta Larsson & Mascha Pauelsen, 2021. "Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging Play a Significant Role in Predicting Physical Performance among Community-Dwelling Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-10, October.
    18. Rippon, Isla & Steptoe, Andrew, 2018. "Is the relationship between subjective age, depressive symptoms and activities of daily living bidirectional?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 41-48.
    19. Bibiana M Armenta & Katherine Stroebe & Susanne Scheibe & Tom Postmes & Nico W Van Yperen, 2017. "Feeling younger and identifying with older adults: Testing two routes to maintaining well-being in the face of age discrimination," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, November.
    20. Ahra Oh & Jiyoun Kim & Eunsurk Yi & Jongseob Shin, 2020. "Verification of the Mediating Effect of Social Support on Physical Activity and Aging Anxiety of Korean Pre-Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:15:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10433-017-0443-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.