Work and mental functioning of prisoners sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment

Objectives The aim of the study was to check whether employment of prisoners sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment significantly differentiates their mental functioning. Material and methods The study involved 124 convicts sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment, of whom 78 (63%) were employed at the time of the study. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI, the Goldberg Mental Health Questionnaire GHQ-28, the Mental Resilience Scale adapted by Łukasz Kaczmarek and the proprietary tool entitled Prison Isolation as a Stressful Situation were used to assess selected aspects of mental functioning. Results Studies have shown that employed prisoners sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment, compared to those sentenced to the same penalty but not employed, have significantly lower levels of anxiety, better assess their mental health and are characterized by higher mental resilience. Conclusions Employing convicts, including those sentenced to long-term sentences, brings measurable benefits. Providing work to prisoners sentenced to 25 years in prison may contribute to their better mental functioning, and in the long term, to a smaller number of extraordinary events or better health - both somatic and mental.