Examination of the relationship between the social support as perceived by the inmates, the mental status and institutional adjustment in correctional facilities

Objective: In this study, it is aimed to examine the relationship between the mental state and the institutional cohesion during the period of accommodation in the penitentiary institution with the perceived social support of the prisoners (convict and a convict with a non-final judgment). In this way, it is aimed to develop effective interventions focusing on improving related family and family members to prevent crime and criminality and to be productive on the issue of the execution period by discovering importance of ties between family and relatives during the conviction period of people for reintegrating them into the society. Method: This investigation was conducted with 200 prisoners who were volunteers between 18-65 years, who were convict and a convict with a non-final judgment in the Metris 2 Nolu T Type Closed Penal Execution Agency in line with official permission from the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses of the Ministry of Justice. In the study, informed voluntary consent forms were given to the participants. Sociodemographic Characteristics and Data Form, Visiting Evaluation Form, Brief Symptom Inventory (CSI) and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (CBCAS) were conducted to each prisoner. In the study, nominal data were defined by frequency analysis, data were expressed by means and standard deviation, and internal consistency values of the scales were given by item validity analysis. The Spearman Moments Multiplication Correlation Analysis was used, the χ2 independence test for the difference between the categorical variables, the Mann- Whitney U test for the median differences for the two categorical variables, and Kruskal-Wallis H test and regression analysis were used to find the predictor variables. SPSS.22 (Statistical Package for Social Science) package program was used in analyzing the data. Results: In the study, 179 (89.5%) of the participants were convict, 21 (10.5%) were a convict with a non-final judgment, 70.5% of the sample committed a violent crime, 29.5% of were crimes that are committed against property takes part in the study. When social support levels, mental status, internal consistency assessed by the individuals participating in the research are evaluated; There was a statistically significant and negative correlation between perceived social support and Brief Symptom Inventory, anxiety subscale, depression subscale, negative self-scale and somatization subscale. In addition, the median scores of psychological distress scores of those with high perceived social support were found to be generally low. When the analysis is shaped in the form of those with and without prison history, those who have not entered prison before have the highest median of internal compliance and perceived social support points; family/relative payments of relatives, the frequency of receiving letters, the frequency of phone calls with family/relatives, and the findings of depression. Also; it was found that the official age at which the prisoner accused from a type of crime (under 18 years old and older than 19 years old) and criminal offense (violence crime vs commodity crime) while the same variable significantly predicted 22% of the total internal compliance total score on the positive side. Conclusion: According to the results of the findings of the research; it has been discovered that the increase in perceived social support by one is related to the improvement in one's mental health and that the continuation of relationship between family and relatives namely the social support perceived for the reintegration of person into the society and spiritual well-being is important. Key Words: Penitentiary Institution, Mental Health, Perceived Social Support.