Prisoner Health and Valuation of Life, Loneliness, and Depressed Mood.

Objective: To examine valuation of life, loneliness, and depressed mood as mediating the association between age and race/ethnicity and health outcomes among older adult male prisoners. Methods: Survey of 261 male prisoners ages 45- 80 from 8 Oklahoma correctional facilities. Results: African American prisoners report fewer health conditions than White prisoners - a finding mediated by significantly greater valuation of life, less loneliness, and lower depressed mood among African American prisoners. Older prisoners reported more health conditions than younger prisoners independent of other study variables. Conclusion: Results suggest improving inmates' internal states will reduce incidence of illness and disease among older male offenders and associated healthcare costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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