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Heterosexual Romantic Relationships, Interpersonal Needs, and Quality of Life in Prison

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Rodrigo J. Carcedo ,
Daniel Perlman ,
Félix López  and
M. Begoña Orgaz
Rodrigo J. Carcedo*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
Daniel Perlman
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (USA)
Félix López
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
M. Begoña Orgaz
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Rodrigo J. Carcedo. Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universidad de Salamanca. E.U. de Magisterio de Zamora. “Campus Viriato”. Avda. Cardenal Cisneros, 24, 49022 Salamanca (Spain). E-mail: rcarcedo@usal.es
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating effect of having vs. not having a heterosexual romantic partner inside the prison on the relationship between interpersonal needs and quality of life. In-person interviews were conducted with 55 male and 64 female inmates from the Topas Penitentiary (Spain). Higher levels of social loneliness and lower levels of sexual satisfaction were associated with lower levels of quality of life. In addition, the interaction between sexual satisfaction and romantic partner status was significant. Higher levels of sexual satisfaction were associated with higher levels of quality of life only for the group without a partner. These findings support a “bad is stronger than good” principle and indicate the detrimental aspects that can be associated with not having a satisfactory sexual life while incarcerated.

El objetivo de estudio era investigar el efector moderador del hecho de tener una pareja heterosexual dentro de prisión vs. no tenerla sobre la relación entre las necesidades interpersonales y la calidad de vida. Se llevaron a cabo entrevistas personales con 55 presos varones y 64 mujeres del Centro Penitenciario de Topas (España). Niveles altos de soledad social y niveles bajos de satisfacción sexual se asociaron con niveles más bajos de calidad de vida. Asimismo, la interacción entre la satisfacción sexual y el estado de pareja fue significativa. Niveles más altos de satisfacción sexual se asociaron con niveles más altos de calidad de vida tan sólo en el grupo sin pareja. Estos hallazgos resaltan la importancia de permitir a los internos tener relaciones de pareja heterosexuales dentro de la misma prisión, así como favorecer el que puedan tener una vida sexual satisfactoria durante el tiempo que están encarcelados.

Keywords

prisonpartner statuslonelinesssexual satisfactionquality of lifeex post facto studyprisiónestatus de parejasoledadsatisfacción sexualcalidad de vidaestudio ex post facto
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 187 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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