A Mixed Methods Study of a Prison-Based Program for Incarcerated Youth: Exploring Trauma, Cognitive Resilience, Social Support, and Correctional Staff Orientation as Novel Intervention Targets

The relationship between childhood trauma and serious delinquency is well substantiated (e.g., Baglivio et al., 2015), however less is known about sources of protection and best treatment approaches for traumatized system-involved youth. This mixed methods research examines the trauma-related experiences, needs, and strengths of a sample of 125 incarcerated youth (ages 16-21 years; 74% Black) housed in an adult prison-based program, through the use of surveys, as well as semi-structured interviews with a stratified random subsample (n = 30). Applying the concept of resiliency (Masten, 2005), Study 1 builds on existing knowledge about the high prevalence of trauma in this population, by investigating the role of cognitive strengths in the relationship between experiences and symptoms, and testing the potential moderating roles of racial and ethnic identity. A triangulation-convergence approach (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011) was used to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings, which implicated several sources of cognitive resilience, including emotion regulation, mindfulness, and self-esteem, in reduced symptomatology. In Study 2, self-reported coping resources, with an emphasis on social support, were explored in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, using interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith et al., 2009) to focus on the lived experiences of incarcerated youth. Benefits of family contact, such as hopefulness, moral guidance, and goal maintenance, were identified. Finally, Study 3 examined perceptive knowledge and ideological viewpoints of staff members, and implications for mental health programming, as well as staff training and composition. Skewed perceptions of youth trauma-related needs, and varying interpretations of rehabilitative purpose, were found. Together, these studies advance meaningful knowledge of incarcerated youth, and provide recommendations for trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally sensitive approaches to programmatic and systemic reform.