How identity integration of community corrections offenders improves their social adaptation: An empirical study in China

Abstract Community corrections offenders (CCOs) face serious identity integration problems, but research on CCOs is lacking. This study examined how CCOs’ identity integration improves their social adaptation in the Chinese context, and the mediating roles of social inclusion and social support in this relationship. A sample of 2,036 CCOs completed questionnaires on identity integration, social inclusion, social support, and social adaptation. Using a linear regression model, we found that the identity integration of CCOs positively predicted their level of social adaptation. The mediation analysis revealed that both social inclusion and social support mediated the relationship between identity integration and social adaptation. Using multiple mediation analysis, we found that social inclusion and support sequentially mediated the link between identity integration and social adaptation. The findings of our study complement existing research by identifying an underlying mechanism in the relationship between identity integration and social adaptation in CCOs.