A thematic analysis of how prisoners overcome suicidality

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 212-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Reading ◽  
Erica Bowen
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Prison Population ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prison Populations ◽  
Male Prisoners

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions, beliefs and abilities that support adult male prisoners in overcoming suicidality. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight male life sentenced prisoners in a Category B prison. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and interpret how prisoners have overcome suicidality. Findings – Five overarching themes were identified; sense of self, presence of meaning, connectedness, shift of perspective and re-establishing control. The themes were closely interconnected and revealed novel insights into the variables that supported prisoners to overcome suicidality. Research limitations/implications – The themes were drawn from a specific prisoner population, which may not be representative of the wider prison population. Additionally, the sole focus on suicidality may be an oversimplification of self-destructive behaviours and could have affected the factors identified. Practical implications – The results highlight the need to refine suicide prevention strategies in prisons; in the assessment of suicide risk, the improvement of supportive regimes and the development of psychological interventions. Originality/value – This research is the first to qualitatively examine the factors involved in overcoming suicide in adult male prisoners. The research is of value to researchers and practitioners alike, as it extends previous research in prison populations and suggests avenues for the development of suicide prevention strategies.

scholarly journals Non-suicidal self-harm amongst incarcerated men: a qualitative study

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 157-172
Author(s):  
Lisa Marzano ◽  
Karen Ciclitira ◽  
Joanna R. Adler
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Incarcerated Men ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Male Prisoners ◽  
Research And Policy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the needs and motivations of incarcerated men who self-harm with no apparent suicidal intent. These have received little attention in research and policy, despite men accounting for a high and increasing proportion of self-harm in prisons. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adult male prisoners with a recent history or thoughts of non-suicidal self-harm. The interviews were analysed drawing on principles of thematic analysis and discourse analysis. Findings Against a backdrop of early traumatic experiences and more recent adverse events (including prison-related ones), self-harm was described by many as a desperate – but meaningful – coping strategy; both a means of releasing tension, sadness and frustration, and of being heard in an unresponsive system. Originality/value These findings echo those of research conducted with women (including women prisoners) who self-harm, but challenge some of the more negative ways in which non-suicidal male prisoner self-harm has been portrayed in the (scant) previous literature. As well as pointing to the need for greater awareness of the complex needs of men in prisons, they underscore the importance of (also) exploring – and perhaps addressing – the issue of self-harm separately from suicide, and of striving to make prisons, as well as prisoners, “healthier” and better able to cope with pressure.

scholarly journals Mental health nurses’ perceptions of attachment style as a construct in a medium secure hospital: a thematic analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Boniwell ◽  
Leanne Etheridge ◽  
Ruth Bagshaw ◽  
Joanne Sullivan ◽  
Andrew Watt
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Service User ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – Attachment Theory can be regarded as central to the concept of relational security. There is a paucity of research examining the coherence of this construct for ward-based staff. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Five female nurses from the acute admission and assessment ward of a UK medium secure unit acted as participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and inductive thematic analysis was applied. Findings – Six themes; “staff-service user relationships”, “staff diversities”, “service user backgrounds”, “variability in service users’ presentations”, “service users with personality disorder are problematic” and “nurses do not use attachment” emerged from the data. The nurses used heuristic models of attachment-related behaviour and they lacked knowledge of constructs associated with Attachment Theory. Research limitations/implications – Acute admissions may not be representative of all treatment contexts. Traditional models of attachment style may have only limited relevance in forensic services. Practical implications – Limited knowledge and confidence in the nurses regarding how Attachment Theory might apply to service users is interesting because it may limit the extent to which care, treatment and risk management might be informed by an understanding of service user representations of therapeutic relationships. Training and educational interventions for nurses that enhance understanding of personality development and attachment styles are warranted. Originality/value – The importance of nurses for achieving relational security is emphasised and the adequacy of their training is questioned.

How do employers think about older workers?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hila Axelrad ◽  
Alexandra Kalev ◽  
Noah Lewin-Epstein
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Age Discrimination ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pension Income ◽  
Significant Barrier

PurposeHigher pensionable age in many countries that are part of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and a shrinking pension income force older people to postpone their retirement. Yet, age-based discrimination in employers' decisions is a significant barrier to their employment. Hence, this paper aims to explore employers' attitudes regarding the employment of workers aged 60–70, striving for a better understanding of age discrimination.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 managers, experts and employees in retirement age in Israel.FindingsFindings reveal a spectrum of employers' attitudes toward the employment of older workers. The authors' analytical contribution is a conceptual typology based on employers' perceived ability to employ older workers and their stated attitudes toward the employment of older workers.Social implicationsThe insights that emerge from this research are fundamental for organizational actors' ability to expand the productive, unbiased employment of older workers.Originality/valueBy understanding employers' preferences and perspectives and the implications on employers' ability and/or willingness to employ older workers, this research will help policymakers formulate and implement policy innovations that address these biases.

TV food advertising aimed at children: qualitative study of Pakistani fathers’ views

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Kashif ◽  
Mubashir Ayyaz ◽  
Sara Basharat
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Food Advertising ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Consumer Socialization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tv Advertising ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Advertising To Children ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – There is plethora of advertising research that has highlighted the mothers’ perspective to TV food advertising. However, the fathers’ perspective on children food advertising in societies that score high on masculinity is important but absent from literature. The purpose of this paper is to present opinions of respondents as fathers, concerning the impact of TV food advertisements on children buying and consumption habits. Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative data through semi-structured interviews has been collected from 32 males having at least one child between the ages of seven and 14 years. The respondents were purposefully selected from a private sector university located in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The collected data have been analysed through thematic analysis. Findings – Thematic analysis revealed six themes; quantity of ads, negative impact of TV food ads, changing buying patterns, positive/productive impact on children, father's perceptions of TV advertising, and advertising changes to be incorporated. The findings have some social, cultural, and managerial implications for core advertising stakeholders. Practical implications – This study is useful for marketing managers whose job is to persuade children and their families into buying their products. They can benefit from the findings of this study to customize the brand communication strategies as per the expectations of respondents as fathers. Furthermore, the study proposes useful insights that will help in devising consumer-led advertising policies in Pakistan. Originality/value – The gender role of males while influencing family decision making with regards to food products marketing has been a new area of research. The study is pioneer in the field of consumer socialization in that it focuses upon the fathers’ perspective on TV advertising to children.

scholarly journals Challenges faced by Malaysian private HLIs in providing quality education: a thematic analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azilah Anis ◽  
Rafikul Islam ◽  
Nur Anisah Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Prospective Employer ◽  
Learning Institutions

Purpose The paper aims to identify the emerging themes on the challenges faced by the Malaysian private higher learning institutions (HLIs) in the provision of providing quality education. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were purposively conducted with 29 of the Malaysian private HLI internal and external stakeholders ranging from the relevant personnel of the institutions (the quality director, administrators and senior academics), regulatory agencies, prospective employer, students and parents. Thematic analysis was then applied to analyze the participants’ responses in determining and clarifying the challenges faced by the Malaysian private HLIs in the issue of providing quality education. Findings Eight overarching themes were identified, namely, Academics, Facilities, Students, Programs and curriculum, Competition, Accreditation, Finance and Research. Academics represent the most frequent challenge raised by the participants, whereas Research emerged as the least mentioned challenge during the interview sessions. Research limitations/implications The present paper focused solely on Malaysian private HLIs, and thus, the findings may not be applicable to the foreign private HLIs that are operating in Malaysia as well as to the public HLIs. Originality/value The findings are expected to provide valuable guidelines to the Malaysian Private HLIs in areas where resources need to be critically disbursed. To the regulatory agencies and policy-makers, the findings could enlighten them on the difficulties faced by these privately funded institutions so that further policies can be designed and implemented to assist these institutions in their operations and long-term survival.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injury in a Male Adult Prison Population and Its Association with the Offence Type

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey Mitchell ◽  
Alice Theadom ◽  
Elizabeth du Preez
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Prison Population ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Sentence Length ◽  
Male Adult ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
History Of ◽  
Prison Populations ◽  
Male Prisoners

Background: The prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in prison populations has been found to vary considerably. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TBI in a prison population in New Zealand and to identify whether age, ethnicity, offence type, security classification and sentence length were linked to TBI prevalence. Methods: All offenders admitted to a new Corrections Facility over a 6-month period (May-November 2015) were screened to understand their history of TBI. Data was merged with demographic information, details of the offence type, sentence length and security classification from the prison database. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the contribution of predictors on TBI history. Results: Of the 1,061 eligible male prisoners, 1,054 (99.3%) completed a TBI history screen. Out of the 672 (63.7%) who had sustained at least one TBI in their lifetime, 343 (32.5%) had experienced multiple injuries. One in 5 participants experienced their first TBI injury before the age of 15 years. A regression model was able to correctly classify 66.9% of cases and revealed that belonging to Māori ethnicity or being imprisoned for violent, sexual or burglary offences were independently predictive of TBI (χ2 = 9.86, p = 0.28). Conclusions: The high prevalence of TBI within male prisoners and a high proportion of injuries sustained in childhood suggest the need for routine screening for TBI to identify prisoners at risk of persistent difficulties. Interventions to support those experiencing persistent difficulties post-TBI are needed to optimise functioning and prevent reoffending.

Why corrections? Motivations for becoming a Canadian provincial or territorial correctional officer

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-286
Author(s):  
Rose Ricciardelli ◽  
Krystle Martin
Keyword(s):  
Prison Population ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Employment Experience ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The growing prison population and challenges related to recruiting and retaining suitable correctional officers (COs) in Canada provided the impetus for the current study. Recruitment efforts in provinces and territories often rely on a variety of diverse testing, ranging from physical fitness to in-person interviews. However, despite such efforts, turn-over rates remain high and insight into what motivates people to seek a career in correctional work continues to require elucidation. By investigating the career development of COs, the purpose of this paper is to understand why certain men seek employment in this field. Design/methodology/approach Data are derived from in-depth semi-structured interviews with male officers (n=41) who have employment experience in provincial correctional facilities. Findings Respondents discussed their initial motivations for entering the field and their career ambitions. Some entered corrections because they lacked alternative options for employment, others as a stepping stone for a different justice-oriented occupation such as policing or parole. Many were motivated by the income and benefits or had a specific vocational self-identity toward correctional work. However, nearly all respondents indicated that, over time, they no longer felt their rate of pay justly reflected the demands of the occupation, thus factors motivating field entry fail to materialize in ways that sustain long-term employee retention. Practical implications CO recruitment should target individuals with interest in the field of justice more broadly. Occupational demands of the CO occupation need to be addressed to reduce turnover. Recruitment should focus not only on new graduates but also be directed toward more mature individuals. The impact of resource intensive interview processes for candidates on turnover rates needs to be evaluated. Originality/value The authors’ focus on COs with employment experience in provincial and territorial correctional facilities, rather than federal, is justified by the lack of research on and the high rate of CO turnover in such facilities. After exploring the qualitative responses of officers, clear themes emerged that align well with natural socio-ecological systems: the self, family and community, and wider society.

Having a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder in a forensic setting: a qualitative exploration

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Jade Lovell ◽  
Gillian Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Forensic Setting

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the lived experience of having a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in a forensic setting. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women with a diagnosis of BPD in private secure units. The interview data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings – Four main themes emerged: identity, power, protection and containment, and confusion. The themes of identity, power and protection and containment represented polarised positions which in turn contributed to the theme of confusion. Research limitations/implications – There are limitations to this study mainly the heterogeneous nature of the sample. However, good quality control and the similarities with previous findings indicate that this study makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of BPD in a forensic setting. In addition it has implications for further research; exploring sense of self and the differences between a sample from a community and a sample from a forensic setting with a diagnosis of BPD. Practical implications – For practitioners to acknowledge power dynamics and to be able to formulate and address these with patients with a diagnosis of BPD. Originality/value – This is the first IPA study to ask women with a diagnosis of BPD in a forensic setting what their experience is. It is a qualitative study due to the need to genuinely explore the topic and to provide a basis for others to conduct further research.

scholarly journals Managing pain in prison: staff perspectives

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Walsh ◽  
Christine Butt ◽  
Dawn Freshwater ◽  
Rachael Dobson ◽  
Nat Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
High Turnover ◽  
Staff Perceptions ◽  
Prison Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Male Prisoners

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of one part of a larger study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, which explored the management of pain in adult male prisoners in one large category B prison in England. In this paper, the authors focus on the attitudes and perceptions of prison staff towards pain management in prison. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative design was utilised to explore the staff perceptions of pain and pain management in one adult male prison. Questionnaires were provided for all staff with prisoner contact, and a follow up focus group was undertaken to further explore questionnaire data. Findings – The questionnaire and focus group findings demonstrated that staff had a good awareness of pain and pain management in prison, with both physical and emotional pain identified. The frequency of approaches by prisoners to staff for pain relief was noted to be high, whilst awareness of how the prison environment could potentially exacerbate pain was discussed. The acquisition of analgesia by prisoners for secondary gain was identified as a challenge to both assessing levels of pain and providing pain relief in prison, illustrating the complexity of providing care within a custodial culture. The effect on staff of caring for prisoners found to be confrontational and deceitful was significant for participants, with feelings of anger and frustration reported. Research limitations/implications – This study was undertaken in one adult male category B prison with a very high turnover of prisoners. Staff working in other types of prison, for example, higher security or those more stable with longer sentenced prisoners could provide alternative views, as may staff caring for younger offenders and women. The challenges to undertaking research in prison with staff who can understandably be reluctant to engage in reflection on their practice cannot be underestimated and impact significantly on available methodologies. Originality/value – This qualitative research is the first of its kind to offer the perspectives of both health care professionals and prison staff working with prisoners complaining of pain in an English prison. It provides the groundwork for further research and development.

Facilitators and barriers to developing firefighter resilience

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Rose Conway ◽  
Sara Waring
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Formal Support ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Support Mechanisms ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
Potential Improvement

PurposeDeveloping resilience is vital for firefighters and other practitioners exposed to trauma as part of their day-to-day work in maintaining physical and mental resilience. However, further understanding of what factors facilitate and hinder the development of firefighter resilience and why is needed. The current study evaluates efficacy of support mechanisms currently in place and develops an evidence base for interventions to support development of firefighter resilience.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 firefighters from across two regions in the United Kingdom, the Northwest and Southeast of England. Thematic analysis was used to analyse transcripts, highlighting themes within, and across, services to identify what factors affect development of firefighter resilience and why.FindingsThematic analysis highlighted four key themes shared by firefighters across regions: “informal support”, “formal support”, “basic welfare measures” and “trust”. Importantly, how effective formal measures are perceived to be and the willingness for firefighters to access these resources was dependent upon the level of trust held in senior management. Firefighters across locations highlighted levels of trust were affected by industrial actions which created divides. Accordingly, one way firefighter resilience may be further promoted is by altering how formal support mechanisms are accessed.Originality/valueAlthough existing research has found factors which promote resilience of firefighters, evaluation of specific services is lacking. The current research highlights areas among two UK services where resilience is effectively being promoted and areas for potential improvement.

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