Correlation between Factors Associated with Depression and Severity of Depression among Incarcerated Men in Meru, Main Prison

Muriira Denis Muriungi, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Candidate; Naomi James, Ph.D; & Kennedy Ong’aro, Ph.D., Daystar University, Kenya

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders globally and it is known to cause impairment in cognitive, social, emotional, and occupational functioning. This study sought to assess the correlation between factors associated with depression and the severity of depression among incarcerated men in Meru, Main Prison. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted with a sample size of 148 inmates selected using a simple random sampling technique. Quantitative data was obtained from the social demographic questionnaire and the BDI-II.The study findings revealed several key correlations related to depression among participants. There was a weak negative correlation between depression severity and participants’ age categories (r = -.020; p = 0.05), indicating that younger participants experienced more severe depression. A strong positive correlation was observed between depression severity and the length of participants' sentences (r = .183; r = 0.01). Participants' choice of drugs negatively correlated with depression severity (r = -0.726; p = 0.01), while chronic illness was positively correlated with severe depression (r = 0.003; p = 0.01). Additionally, feeling socially neglected and lonely in prison showed a strong positive correlation with depression severity (r = 0.171; p = 0.01), while a negative correlation was found between perceptions of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse in prison and the development of severe depression (r = -0.120; p = 0.05). The study recommends that prison authorities enhance privacy in lavatories and bathrooms, expand vocational training programs and orientation for inmates, and encourage more frequent family visits for social support.

Keywords: Factors Associated with Depression, Severity of Depression, Incarcerated Men