Setting and Sample
Criteria for inclusion were age 50 or older and the ability to speak and understand English. Our lower-limit age criterion for this study was age 50 because it is the age most commonly used in studies of older inmates’ health,10 and inmates may be 10-15 years older physiologically than chronologically.2 Exclusion criteria included either a life sentence or death sentence. A convenience sample of 51 male inmates with ages ranging from 50 to 80 (mean 57 years; SD 6.70) was obtained at a minimum security state correctional facility in Pennsylvania.
The Research Review Committee chairperson at the Department of Corrections (DOC) provided a computer-generated listing of 237 eligible prisoners, from which a corrections officer in the prison visiting room contacted cell block officers to determine whether selected inmates were available and, if so, were they willing to meet with the researcher in the no-contact visiting room to discuss the study. We do not know exactly how many of the 237 inmates were approached or why some who were approached did not come to hear about the study; however, every inmate who was available and who agreed to meet with the researchers also agreed to participate in the study. Refusal rates could not be precisely tracked in this study because the list of eligible participants was managed by the visiting room corrections officer. Study participants received both oral and written explanations of the study and were informed that neither participation nor nonparticipation would affect future parole decisions. Signed informed consents were obtained. No incentives were provided.
The inmates surveyed had the following demographic characteristics: 56.9% were White; 72.5% had at least a high school diploma or equivalent; and 74.5% were currently single. On average, participants had been incarcerated for 7.6 (SD 7.64) consecutive years.