Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Social Support has multiple benefits for health and mental wellbeing. Its existence, and the extent to which it can be beneficial, is dependent upon the context in which it is provided, and the recipients\' view of it. Social support has long been established as a \'buffer\' to the negative impact of stressful life experiences. Trauma can negatively impact upon social support, reducing the extent of social networks and ability of some trauma experienced individuals to sustain extensive social support networks. However, some trauma experiences can also strengthen social relationships. Imprisoned men are disproportionately likely to have experienced a traumatic event when compared with the general population. Past research has found that traumatic events can lead to a decrease in social support among imprisoned men but more research is needed to understand the variations in perceived social support experienced by imprisoned men and to determine how different types of trauma may be related to perceived social support.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 384 adult men detained in the Northern Ireland Prison Service was conducted between November 2022 and January 2023. The survey collected data on the men\'s demographics, mental health, substance use, and criminal history. Respondents were also asked to complete a Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) and the Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Regression analysis was then used to investigate the possible associations between individual characteristics, different types of trauma experiences and perceived social support.
RESULTS: Most types of trauma experiences were not associated with lower levels of perceived social support. Only those who had experienced crime related trauma were more likely to report lower levels of social support. Older imprisoned men and those using substances were more likely to report lower levels of perceived social support, while those who had served a sentence of less than one year reported higher levels of perceived social support.
CONCLUSIONS: Crime related trauma experiences were found to be associated with lower levels of perceived social support. There were no significant findings around perceived social support and any of the other trauma types i.e. physical, sexual and general disaster experiences. Trauma informed policy responses should be cognisant of this, as those with experiences of crime related victimisation are less likely to have the social support needed to buffer against future trauma experiences. The findings demonstrate that some individuals experience lower levels of perceived social support and several factors are associated with this including age, time served and substance use history. This will potentially impact upon them during release and affect their reintegration into society. Specific policies aimed at these groups should be considered to prevent them from experiencing a lack of support and any accompanying adversity upon release.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 384 adult men detained in the Northern Ireland Prison Service was conducted between November 2022 and January 2023. The survey collected data on the men\'s demographics, mental health, substance use, and criminal history. Respondents were also asked to complete a Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) and the Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Regression analysis was then used to investigate the possible associations between individual characteristics, different types of trauma experiences and perceived social support.
RESULTS: Most types of trauma experiences were not associated with lower levels of perceived social support. Only those who had experienced crime related trauma were more likely to report lower levels of social support. Older imprisoned men and those using substances were more likely to report lower levels of perceived social support, while those who had served a sentence of less than one year reported higher levels of perceived social support.
CONCLUSIONS: Crime related trauma experiences were found to be associated with lower levels of perceived social support. There were no significant findings around perceived social support and any of the other trauma types i.e. physical, sexual and general disaster experiences. Trauma informed policy responses should be cognisant of this, as those with experiences of crime related victimisation are less likely to have the social support needed to buffer against future trauma experiences. The findings demonstrate that some individuals experience lower levels of perceived social support and several factors are associated with this including age, time served and substance use history. This will potentially impact upon them during release and affect their reintegration into society. Specific policies aimed at these groups should be considered to prevent them from experiencing a lack of support and any accompanying adversity upon release.
摘要：
背景：社会支持对健康和心理健康有多重益处。它的存在,以及它在多大程度上是有益的，取决于提供它的上下文，和它的收件人\'视图。长期以来，社会支持一直被认为是对紧张生活经历的负面影响的“缓冲”。创伤会对社会支持产生负面影响，减少社交网络的程度和一些遭受创伤的个人维持广泛的社会支持网络的能力。然而,一些创伤经历也可以加强社会关系。与普通人群相比，被监禁的男性经历创伤事件的可能性不成比例。过去的研究发现，创伤事件可能导致被监禁男子的社会支持减少，但需要更多的研究来了解被监禁男子所经历的感知社会支持的变化，并确定不同类型的创伤可能与感知社会支持有关。
方法：在2022年11月至2023年1月期间，对被拘留在北爱尔兰监狱管理局的384名成年男子进行了横断面调查。调查收集了男性人口统计数据，心理健康,物质使用,犯罪历史。受访者还被要求完成创伤历史问卷（THQ）和多维感知社会支持量表（MSPSS）。然后使用回归分析来调查个体特征之间可能的关联，不同类型的创伤经历和感知的社会支持。
结果：大多数类型的创伤经历与较低水平的感知社会支持无关。只有那些经历过与犯罪有关的创伤的人更有可能报告较低的社会支持水平。被监禁的老年人和使用药物的人更有可能报告较低水平的社会支持，而那些服刑不到一年的人报告了更高的感知社会支持水平。
结论：发现与犯罪相关的创伤经历与较低水平的感知社会支持有关。关于感知的社会支持和任何其他创伤类型，即身体创伤，性和一般灾难经历。创伤知情的政策回应应该认识到这一点，因为那些有犯罪相关受害经历的人不太可能拥有缓冲未来创伤经历所需的社会支持。研究结果表明，一些个体经历较低水平的感知社会支持和几个因素与此有关，包括年龄，送达时间和物质使用史。这可能会在释放期间对他们产生影响，并影响他们重新融入社会。应考虑针对这些群体的具体政策，以防止他们在获释时缺乏支持和任何伴随的逆境。
方法：在2022年11月至2023年1月期间，对被拘留在北爱尔兰监狱管理局的384名成年男子进行了横断面调查。调查收集了男性人口统计数据，心理健康,物质使用,犯罪历史。受访者还被要求完成创伤历史问卷（THQ）和多维感知社会支持量表（MSPSS）。然后使用回归分析来调查个体特征之间可能的关联，不同类型的创伤经历和感知的社会支持。
结果：大多数类型的创伤经历与较低水平的感知社会支持无关。只有那些经历过与犯罪有关的创伤的人更有可能报告较低的社会支持水平。被监禁的老年人和使用药物的人更有可能报告较低水平的社会支持，而那些服刑不到一年的人报告了更高的感知社会支持水平。
结论：发现与犯罪相关的创伤经历与较低水平的感知社会支持有关。关于感知的社会支持和任何其他创伤类型，即身体创伤，性和一般灾难经历。创伤知情的政策回应应该认识到这一点，因为那些有犯罪相关受害经历的人不太可能拥有缓冲未来创伤经历所需的社会支持。研究结果表明，一些个体经历较低水平的感知社会支持和几个因素与此有关，包括年龄，送达时间和物质使用史。这可能会在释放期间对他们产生影响，并影响他们重新融入社会。应考虑针对这些群体的具体政策，以防止他们在获释时缺乏支持和任何伴随的逆境。
