Fear of Victimization and Symptoms of Psychopathology among Prison Inmates

This research examines the relationship between fear of victimization and mental health among prison inmates. The data come principally from a survey of 300 inmates housed in a maximum-security facility in the southeastern United States. Regression analysis is used to identify the independent effccts of institutional stresses, social supports, victimization and fear. Unlike studies conducted among non-incarcerated populations, the findings of this research show, controlling for pre-existing disorders, level of fear as an extremely important predictor of general well-being.