Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Robert Meyer

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to shed light on the lived experiences related to the stressors that a sample of nine correctional officers (COs) encountered while working in solitary confinement (SC) units in U.S. prisons. Cognitive behavioral theory served as the theoretical framework to help to explain different ways that COs can manage their work stressors. These stressors, including lack of a sense of belonging, lack of reward, negative perceptions of policies and procedures while conducting daily duties, lack of independent decision making, and perceived danger, were addressed by the research question. Data were obtained from a semistructured online questionnaire and analyzed using hand coding and NVivo v.11. The results indicated that COs experience stress while working in SC units in U.S. prisons. The COs reported not receiving incentives for working in SC units and supervisors having the ultimate decision authority about the inmates housed in SC. Participants reported various responses for sense of belonging and reward while working in SC. Recommendations for future research include using participants who no longer work in SC units, expand criteria beyond U.S. borders, and conduct research in different prison settings (state vs. federal). Implications for positive social change include reforms in SC units by prison administrators that focus on changing policies that assist COs and evidence-based programming aimed at providing tools to assist COs with daily stressors.

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