Locked In: A Descriptive Analysis of Social Adversity and Psychological Well-Being Among Persons Deprived of Liberty

This study employed a quantitative, descriptive design to investigate the relationship between social adversity and psychological well-being among 300 incarcerated individuals in Sta. Municipal Jail, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Philippines. Participants were randomly selected and completed questionnaires assessing social adversity using the Perceived Community and Social Adversity Questionnaire (PCSAQ) and psychological well-being using Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff & Keyes, 1995).Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The mean score for social adversity on the PCSAQ was 65.26, indicating a moderate overall level. Further breakdown revealed moderate levels of feeling controlled (M = 33.07) and social alienation/exclusion (M = 21.58). However, the mean score for weakness in social competition was notably low (M = 10.61). Similarly, the mean score for psychological well-being across all six dimensions of Ryff's scale was moderate (M = 81.02).These results suggest that while individuals deprived of liberty face significant social challenges, particularly related to feelings of control and social isolation, their psychological well-being is also impacted, albeit at a moderate level. The unexpectedly low score for social competition warrants further investigation. While the generalizability of the study may be limited by the use of a single facility, the findings highlight the importance of identifying the protective factors that contribute to maintaining a moderate level of well-being despite facing social adversity. Future research should explore these protective factors and the reasons behind the low social competition finding, to gain a deeper understanding of how to support the psychological well-being of this overlooked population.