Correctional Adjustment Among Taiwanese Incarcerated Individuals: The Roles of Incarceration-Related Stressors, Locus of Control, and Coping Strategies.

This study investigates the mechanisms of correctional adjustment among male incarcerated individuals in Taiwan, conceptualized across cognitive (criminal attitudes, prisonization) and emotional (depressive symptoms) domains. Data were drawn from 436 inmates across 27 correctional facilities, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships among incarceration-related stressors, locus of control (LOC), and coping strategies. Results show that incarceration-related stressors are strongly associated with maladaptive cognitive patterns and emotional distress. LOC serves as a central mediator, influencing both coping and adjustment outcomes, while coping strategies further mediate the effect of LOC on adjustment. These findings corroborate Western theories while extending them to an East Asian context, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive models of prison adjustment. The study also provides a historical baseline for evaluating the impact of Taiwan's 2020 correctional reforms and offers insights for future comparative research on inmate well-being and institutional adaptation.