Purpose of Study: A theoretical integration of
the life course perspective, cumulative advantage,
disadvantage or inequality, and stress processing
theories provide an important integrated lens to study
the relationship between accumulated interpersonal,
social-structural, and historical trauma and stressful
experiences on mental well-being mental well-being
in later life. Design and Methods: This study
builds upon the extant literature by examining the
mediating role of coping resources on the relationship
between trauma and stressful life experiences,
post traumatic stress symptoms, and mental
well-being among a sample of 677 adults aged
50 and older in prison. Results: The majority
(70%) reported experiencing one or more traumatic
or stressful life experiences during their life
span. Participants also reported on average 11
occurrences of multilevel trauma and stressful life
events and lingering subjective distress related to
these events. Results of a structural equation model
revealed that internal and external coping resources
(e.g., cognitive, emotional, physical, spiritual, and
social) had a significant and inverse effect on the
relationship between trauma and stressful life experiences
and mental well-being. Implications: As
prisons are forced to deal with an aging population,
research in this area can take the preliminary steps to
enhance understanding of risk and resilience among
older adults in prison. This understanding will aid in
the development and improvement of integrated theory-based
interventions seeking to increase human
rights, health, and well-being among older adults in
prison.
Key Words: Trauma, Violence, Abuse, Stress, Older
adults, Prisoners, Well-being, Coping, Coping
resources, Structural equation modeling, Life stressors
checklist, Coping Resources Inventory, Post Traumatic
Stress Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory