EMOTIONAL STABILITY AND AFFECTIVE DISTRESS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUTH DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY FOR CRIMES COMMITTED WITHOUT VIOLENCE

Abstract

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the affective state of young people in custody of the penitentiary system for nonviolent crimes. Material and methods. The answers provided to the 5-Factor Personality Questionnaire (CP5F) (emotional stability scale) and the Affective Distress Profile (PDA) of 52 boys aged between 18-25 deprived of liberty were processed. The main statistical techniques used were the independent samples t-test and effect size calculation (Hedges' g indicator). Results. Convicted persons from the urban environment presented higher scores of emotional stability in contrast to those from the rural environment (t(47) = 2.28, p = 0.02). Young people who did not receive a visit in the last month presented a higher level of functional negative emotions in the "sadness/depression" category (t(50) = 2.46, p = 0.01, g = 0.68), reported higher levels of total (t(50) = 2.03, p = 0.04, g = 0.56) and global distress (t(50) = 3.78, p = 0.00, g = 1.05), but also a higher level of positive emotions (t(50) = 3.42, p = 0.00, g = 0.95). Participants involved in an intimate relationship obtained higher scores for dysfunctional negative emotions in the "worry/anxiety" category (t(50) = - 2.32, p = 0.02, g = 0.62) and for total distress (t(50) = - 2.02, p = 0.04, g = 0.53). Those who grew up in a disadvantaged area registered higher scores of functional negative emotions in the "sadness/depression" category (t(50) = - 2.10, p = 0.04, g = 0.60) and of functional negative emotions in the "sadness/depression" and "worry/anxiety" categories (t(50) = - 2.04, p = 0.04, g = 0.58). Conclusions. Policies to prevent recidivism among young people deprived of liberty for nonviolent crimes need to target actions aimed at reducing the level of emotional distress.

Keywords

• nonviolent crime
• emotional stability
• affective distress
• young people