Abstract
In Australia (NSW Department of Justice, 2015) and elsewhere (Shaw, Stevens, Paget, & Snoyman, 2019) concerns about how to support the health and wellbeing of people in prisons have led to various leisure-based programs and interventions. Largely employing sport and physical activity, such programs have focused on preparing people incarcerated for release and reducing the likelihood of recidivism (Meek & Lewis, 2014) and encouraging the relinquishment of drug consumption and enabling the development of socialisation and communication skills (Martinez-Merino, Martín-González, Usabiaga, & Martos-Garcia, 2017). However, these interventions are largely skewed towards younger men (Meek & Lewis, 2014; Woods et al., 2017) and women (Martinez-Merino et al., 2017). Meanwhile, concern for the health and wellbeing of older people in prisons has largely focused on their needs for specialised equipment, care and medication (Lee et al., 2019). Consequently, there is a dearth of programs specifically addressing the leisure needs of older people in prisons.
Generativity is a psychological construct that postulates that there are gains to be made through ageing (Villar, 2012). Generative commitments are often enacted in passing on skills and knowledge to the next generation, which often naturally occur through intergenerational family and community contact. However, these opportunities are limited in the prison environment. Maruna, LeBel and Lanier (2004) posit that generative commitments provide a sense of purpose, and therefore can enable people in prisons to make meaning from their lives and, in doing so, redeem themselves from past mistakes. This suggests that generativity may have an important role in improving the wellbeing of older people in prisons.
This presentation will focus on a project currently underway at a high security prison in NSW, Australia, where the authors have been working with ageing prisoners using a generativity approach to leisure involvement. We will discuss our approach and learnings thus far.
Generativity is a psychological construct that postulates that there are gains to be made through ageing (Villar, 2012). Generative commitments are often enacted in passing on skills and knowledge to the next generation, which often naturally occur through intergenerational family and community contact. However, these opportunities are limited in the prison environment. Maruna, LeBel and Lanier (2004) posit that generative commitments provide a sense of purpose, and therefore can enable people in prisons to make meaning from their lives and, in doing so, redeem themselves from past mistakes. This suggests that generativity may have an important role in improving the wellbeing of older people in prisons.
This presentation will focus on a project currently underway at a high security prison in NSW, Australia, where the authors have been working with ageing prisoners using a generativity approach to leisure involvement. We will discuss our approach and learnings thus far.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Leisure Sciences Association |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Jul 2010 |