How Detainment Reshapes the Interpersonal Relationships of Indonesian Incarcerated Youth: A Qualitative Study

This study examines how detainment reshapes interpersonal relationships among Indonesian incarcerated youth. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and interviews with six youth, four themes emerged: reconnecting with family, peer support in prison, staff as non-parental caregivers, and disengagement from out-of-prison peers. Detainment fostered emotional growth, trust in staff, and peer solidarity, while prompting withdrawal from risky past connections. These findings extend deprivation theory by highlighting the role of fair treatment and routine in mitigating the pains of imprisonment, with implications for relationship-centered rehabilitation focused on emotional support, prosocial networks, and family involvement.