This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Phelps, D. C. Articles by Hillbrand, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Phelps, D. C., Jr. Articles by Hillbrand, M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Loneliness in a Maximum-Security Forensic Hospital: An Experience Sampling Analysis

Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital, P.O. Box 70, O'Brien Drive, Middletown, Connecticut 06457, USA

Bradley M. Waite

Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut 06050, USA

Marc Hillbrand

Yale University School of Medicine, Unit Director, Connecticut Valley Hospital, P.O. Box 70, Middletown, Connecticut 06457, USA

This study investigated correlates of loneliness in 25 incarcerated psychiatric patients in a maximum-security hospital to clarify relations between loneliness and other contextual and interpersonal variables. Forensic inpatients reported the greatest frequency of loneliness and negative emotional states when they were alone. Significant positive correlations were found between reported loneliness and subjective variables such as rejection, helplessness, worthlessness, and anxiety. A significant negative correlation was found between reported loneliness and sociability. Patients reported the greatest frequency of loneliness during leisure-type activities. Leisure time was filled with activities, such as television watching, that did not make people feel sociable but instead fostered negative emotional states. The findings indicate that activities that are goal-directed and enhance sense of worth decrease feelings of helplessness and worthlessness. Unexpectedly, reported loneliness was not related to any of the personality measures used, suggesting that the subjective experience of loneliness may not be related to personality traits.

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 42, No. 4, 291-304 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/0306624X9804200403


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?