Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study

The reliability of life experience reports is a significant concern for both research and practical purposes. However, studies about this topic are scarce and limited: studies mainly focused on negative life experiences, and some populations are under-investigated, such as inmates. This study assessed the temporal reliability of positive and negative life experiences throughout the lifespan based on reports of 30 inmates selected from a convenience sample. Life experiences before and during incarceration were assessed using LIFES, which was applied twice. Results showed that the inmates’ reports are reliable. This study suggests that retrospective reports are reliable concerning experiences before and throughout incarceration. Moreover, when comparing the reliability of positive and negative experiences before incarceration, the reliability was similar. Still, the kappa value was higher on positives than negatives during incarceration despite similar agreement percentage values. The results from this pilot study may be informative and inspiring for further studies.