INFLUENCE OF SOCIOLOGICAL STRESS COPING STRATEGIES ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF LIFE SENTENCED INMATES IN MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONS IN KENYA

Human beings all over the world endeavour to have not only physical well being but also psychological well being. Psychological well being is observed when one has positive self regard, positive relationships, personal autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life and personal growth. Persons that are in prison for life also struggle to get to that same level of psychological well being. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of sociological stress coping strategies on the psychological well-being of life sentenced inmates in maximum security prisons in Kenya. Cognitive behavioural theory and Logo therapy theory guided this study. This study was a descriptive survey. The target population was life sentenced inmates in nine maximum security prisons in Kenya. The accessible population was 4,487 life sentenced inmates. The sample size of the life sentenced inmates was 365 which was selected through simple random sampling. In addition, 30 specialized prison officers were purposively selected. Thus, the total sample size was 395 respondents. The study collected data using questionnaires for life sentenced inmates, an adapted psychological well-being scale for life sentenced inmates and interviews for specialized prison officers. The findings of the study indicate that sociological coping strategies influence the psychological well-being of life sentenced inmates. The study recommends that; policy makers and stakeholders of correctional and rehabilitation of inmates prioritize on the psychological well-being of lifers for effective rehabilitation and reintegration of the inmates.