Development of a Conceptual Framework Based on the Lived Experiences of Male Inmates Using Roy’s Adaptation Model

The experience of incarceration encompasses multidimensional challenges that impact the physical, emotional, social, and psychological well-being of inmates. To understand how inmates, respond and adapt to such challenges, the present study aimed to develop a conceptual framework grounded in Roy’s Adaptation Model, based on the lived experiences of male inmates. A qualitative, descriptive research design was employed, involving male inmates from a district prison of Morena, Madhya Pradesh, India. Data were collected using in-depth interviews guided by structured questions rooted in Roy’s model. Colaizzi’s method of phenomenological analysis was used to derive themes and subthemes, ensuring credibility and depth of interpretation. The analysis revealed a range of stimuli including focal (pre-crime factors like Use of preventive measures, Availability of items, impulsive behaviour, family background), contextual (challenges such as overcrowding, poor hygiene, and rigid routines), and residual (emotional and social worries, stigma, and fear of reintegration). Inmates demonstrated coping mechanisms via cognator (mindfulness, guilt, reintegration thoughts) and regulator (emotional engagement, routine planning) subsystems. These mechanisms influenced adaptation across six domains: physical, mental, social, financial, spiritual, and legal trust. The outcomes included both adaptive (faith, hope, meditation) and ineffective (depression, insomnia, suicidal ideation) responses. A conceptual framework was developed to represent these processes holistically. This framework has potential applications in guiding prison health interventions, psychosocial support strategies, and rehabilitation policies, offering a theoretical foundation for future research and policy-making.