Survey of loneliness and self-esteem levels in prisoners who don't use subdance abuse and subtance abuse where stay Samsun Vezirkopru M Type Closed Prison

The objective of this study was to investigate self-esteem and loneliness levels in prisoners with substance use disorder (SUD) and compare these parameters with those in prisoners with no substance use disorder. In addition, the self-esteem and loneliness levels of the prisoners according to the demographic variables selected by the researcher were examined. Study sample included 161 prisoners in Samsun Vezirköprü M Type Closed Prison, in the age range of 20-67, 71 of whom had substance use disorder and 90 of whom had no substance use disorder according to the DSM-V criteria. The socio-demographic form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were filled by the participants. Result of analysis, self-esteem levels were found lower and loneliness levels were found higher in participants with SUD compare with participant without SUD (p <0.05). In addition, it was observed that substance use had a common effect on both loneliness and self esteem scores (p <0.05) according to the result of the one-way MANOVA analysis. It was found that there was a negative and significant correlation between the duration of prison sentence and self-esteem (r = -0,215), a positive and significant correlation between loneliness scores and the duration of time spent in prison (r = 0,200) and a negative and significant correlation between loneliness and self-esteem scores (r = -0,394). Levels of loneliness were higher in prisoners who lived alone prior to imprisonment and who had SUD compared to those who did not live alone and who had no SUD (p <0.05). Loneliness levels of the prisoners who had higher communication frequency with their family and friends were lower and self-esteem levels were higher compared to those who had lower communication frequency with family and friends. . Psychological support for prisoners who have subtance use disorder and ways to increase opportunities for social contact for prisoners might be considered.