Mental health disorders and recidivism among incarcerated adult offenders in a correctional facility in South Africa: a cluster analysis

Kwanele Shishane
,
Johannes John-Langba
,
Eyitayo Onifade

Institute of Applied Social Research (IASR)
,
School of Society Community and Health
,
University of KwaZulu-Natal
,
Clark Atlanta University

Research Output:

Contribution to journal

Article

Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 Good Health and Well
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Abstract

The contribution of mental illness, substance use, and appetitive aggression to recidivism has significant policy and practice implications. Offenders with untreated mental illness have a higher recidivism rate and a greater number of criminogenic risk factors than those without mental illness. Previous research has demonstrated that the likelihood of appetitive aggression increases in violent contexts where individuals perpetrate aggressive acts. Using the Ecological Systems Theory, this study investigated the association between mental health disorders and recidivism among incarcerated adult offenders in South Africa, and the intervening role of appetitive aggression and substance use. Using a cross-sectional quantitative research design, a sample of 280 incarcerated male and female adult offenders aged 18-35 with no known psychiatric disorders were sampled at a correctional facility in South Africa. The re-incarceration rate, mental health disorders, substance use, and appetitive aggression symptomology were assessed using the Hopkins symptoms checklist, the CRAFFT measure of substance use, and the appetitive aggression scale. Findings indicate a 32.4% recidivism rate (n = 82). Cluster analysis indicated that the combination of anxiety, depression, substance use, and appetitive aggression increased the likelihood of recidivism. Appetitive aggression median differences between clusters 2 and 3 played a key role in distinguishing recidivism risk among recidivist and non-recidivist participants. Chi-square analysis highlighted group differences in education levels among the established clusters [x2 (3, n = 217) = 12.832, p = .005, which is < .05] as well as group differences in the type of criminal offence [x2 (3, n = 187) = 24.362, p = .000, which is < .05] and cluster membership. Combined factors that increase the likelihood of recidivism provide a typology for classifying offenders based on particular recidivism risk determinants, which offers insights for developing tailored interventions that address a combination of factors.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:

Contribution to journal

Article

Peer-review

Original language

English

Article number

e0278194

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

PLoS ONE (Volume 18, Issue 1 January)

Publication milestones

Accepted/In press - 11/11/2022
Published - 19/01/2023

Publication status

Published - 19/01/2023

Publication IDs

handle.net: 10547/625632
Scopus: 85146695863
PubMed: 36656817

Access to documents

10.1371/journal.pone.0278194

final published version

Final published version, 1.53 MB

License:CC BY

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article%3Fid%3D10.1371/journal.pone.0278194

Final published version

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