Surabaya – Stress experienced by incarcerated individuals is influenced not only by the loss of freedom but also by prison conditions, limited family support, access to mental healthcare, and psychological vulnerabilities that existed before imprisonment. These findings were reported by Ricky Probo Yulianto, Suhadianto, and I Gusti Ayu Agung Noviekayati from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya in a study published in 2026 in the International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR). Through a systematic literature review, the researchers concluded that stress among prisoners results from the interaction between personal vulnerability and the pressures of the correctional environment, highlighting the need for comprehensive mental health interventions within correctional institutions.
Imprisonment involves much more than losing personal freedom. For many incarcerated individuals, prison life fundamentally changes daily routines, personal space, social relationships, access to resources, and the ability to make everyday decisions. Prisoners must adapt to strict institutional rules, live alongside individuals from diverse backgrounds, and cope with uncertainty regarding their future. When these environmental demands exceed an individual's capacity to adapt, prolonged psychological stress is likely to develop.
The study explains that many prisoners already possess psychological vulnerabilities before entering correctional facilities. Histories of mental disorders, traumatic experiences, substance use, family conflict, economic hardship, and exposure to violence significantly increase susceptibility to stress during incarceration. When these pre-existing conditions are combined with the challenges of prison life, psychological distress often becomes more severe.
To examine the causes and consequences of prison-related stress, the researchers conducted a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using a narrative synthesis approach based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Scientific publications were retrieved from PubMed, PubMed Central, DOAJ, Google Scholar, and official publisher websites, covering studies published between 2021 and 2026. After a rigorous screening process, 19 empirical studies met the eligibility criteria and were synthesized together with one PRISMA methodological guideline, resulting in a comprehensive review of 20 journal references. The PRISMA flow diagram presented in the article illustrates each stage of study identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion.
The review identified five major categories of stressors affecting incarcerated populations. The first consists of pre-incarceration vulnerabilities such as mental disorders, trauma, and substance abuse. The second includes institutional environmental factors, including loss of autonomy, overcrowding, excessive noise, insecurity, and isolation. The third involves disruption of family and social relationships. The fourth comprises barriers to accessing mental healthcare, including stigma, insufficient information, lack of trust, and complicated service procedures. Finally, situational factors—particularly restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic—intensified psychological burdens that already existed within correctional settings.
Among these contributing factors, family separation emerged as one of the most persistent sources of emotional distress. Many prisoners expressed deep concern about their spouses, children, parents, and financial responsibilities while incarcerated. Restrictions on family visits, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, further intensified feelings of loneliness, helplessness, and uncertainty. The review emphasizes that maintaining regular communication with family members helps preserve hope, personal identity, and emotional stability throughout imprisonment.
The study also found that access to mental healthcare remains a major challenge in correctional institutions. Many prisoners hesitate to seek professional support because they fear being perceived as weak by fellow inmates, doubt the confidentiality of available services, or simply do not understand how to access psychological care. As a result, symptoms of stress frequently remain untreated until they develop into more serious mental health conditions. According to the researchers, building trust between prisoners and healthcare providers is essential for improving service utilization and psychological well-being.
Regarding psychological outcomes, the review identified anxiety as the most consistently reported consequence of prison-related stress. In addition, prisoners commonly experience depression, loneliness, sleep disturbances, anger, mood instability, social withdrawal, hopelessness, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal thoughts or expressions. The researchers emphasize that these conditions should not be dismissed as temporary emotional reactions but recognized as significant mental health problems requiring professional assessment and intervention.
Despite these challenges, the review also identified several important protective factors that reduce psychological stress. Family support proved to be the strongest protective resource, followed by positive relationships with fellow prisoners and correctional officers. Meaningful activities—including education, vocational training, physical exercise, religious programs, counseling, and rehabilitation initiatives—help prisoners establish structured routines, develop new skills, and reduce excessive rumination that contributes to psychological distress.
Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that correctional institutions implement routine mental health screening beginning at prison admission, followed by repeated assessments after the initial adjustment period, following critical incidents, and before release. They also recommend establishing clear mental health referral pathways, protecting service confidentiality, expanding access to rehabilitative activities, and maintaining family contact through in-person visits, telephone calls, or video communication whenever possible.
According to Ricky Probo Yulianto and colleagues, improving prisoners' mental health requires more than providing individual psychological treatment. Correctional institutions should simultaneously improve environmental conditions, strengthen social relationships, expand meaningful daily activities, and develop institutional policies that support psychological well-being. Such an integrated approach is expected to reduce stress, strengthen rehabilitation outcomes, and improve prisoners' successful reintegration into society after release.
Overall, the study concludes that stress among incarcerated individuals is a multidimensional issue shaped by personal, environmental, social, and healthcare-related factors. By creating more humane correctional systems, ensuring accessible mental health services, and strengthening family connections, correctional institutions can significantly improve prisoners' psychological well-being while supporting rehabilitation and long-term social reintegration.
Author Profile
Ricky Probo Yulianto – Faculty of Psychology, University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia.
Suhadianto – Faculty of Psychology, University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia.
I Gusti Ayu Agung Noviekayati – Faculty of Psychology, University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia.
Research Source
Article Title: Stress Among Prisoners from the Perspective of Causal Factors and Psychological Impacts: A Systematic Literature Review.
Journal: International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR), Vol. 4, No. 7, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijsmr.v4i7.110
Journal Website: https://journalijsmr.my.id/index.php/ijsmr
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