Recreation as a Potential Stress-Relief Mechanism for People Incarcerated in Jail

Incarceration is a significant stressor with long-term health implications. Limited autonomy in jail restricts stress-reducing opportunities, but recreation time (rec-time) may help mitigate stress. We estimated the association between rec-time attendance and stress among people incarcerated in a rural Southwestern U.S. jail. From 2017 to 2018, we recruited participants from Coconino County Detention Facility for a cross-sectional health study. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and reported rec-time attendance. A log-binomial regression estimated prevalence ratios for rec-time and stress. Among 199 participants, those who never attended rec-time had higher stress levels (PSS score greater than 8) than those who always attended, including in the past 24 hours (percentile rank = 2.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.23, 3.52). Regular rec-time attendance may reduce stress, warranting further research on causal links and activity types.