Life after incarceration: The impact of stability on formerly imprisoned Oxford House residents

J Prev Interv Community. 2022 Apr-Jun;50(2):191-204. doi: 10.1080/10852352.2021.1934939. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Abstract

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, roughly 65% of the US prison population is diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD) and over 600,000 individuals are released from incarceration yearly. Thus, it is important to better understand the factors that allow individuals recovering from SUD to reintegrate into communities after incarceration. This study sought to understand the relationship between a personality mediator (stability) and quality of life (QOL) and belonging support (BS), as well as the relationship between this mediator and QOL and psychological sense of community (PSOC) for 131 individuals living in Oxford House (OH) recovery homes. Stability was found to mediate the relationship between BS and QOL, as well as PSOC and QOL. The findings suggest that OH is a supportive and positive recovery community for those with criminal justice backgrounds, particularly those with higher stability.

Keywords: Incarceration; Oxford House; recovery home; substance use disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Group Homes
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers*
  • Substance-Related Disorders*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires