Direct and Indirect Effects of Religiosity on Valuation of Life Through Forgiveness and Social Provisions Among Older Incarcerated Males

Purpose of the study: Few studies have investigated the influence of religiosity (REL), forgiveness, and social resources on incarcerated individuals' attachment to their lives, or valuation of life (VOL). We tested a model linking REL to VOL through 3 sub-scales of the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (Self, Others, and Situations) and social provisions (SPS). Design and Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 261 male prison inmates, aged 45-82, incarcerated in 8 state-managed correctional facilities. Participants were sampled from the prison census database (Oklahoma Department of Corrections or DOC). Exclusion criteria, per the Oklahoma DOC, were those housed in medical or psychiatric units, currently in solitary confinement, or sentenced to death row. Results: To account for possible violations of multivariate normality, we used the Satorra-Bentler chi-square statistic. The final model fit the data well, explaining 57% of the variance in VOL: chi(2) (N = 261; df = 3) = 7.40; p = .06; Comparative Fit Index = .99; root mean squared error of approximation = .08; standardized root mean squared residual = .02. Significant indirect effects of REL on VOL were present through Forgiveness of Others and SPS, and of REL on SPS through Forgiveness of Others. Analyses controlled for age, race, education, perceived physical health, and depressive symptoms. Implications: Implications of the findings for those involved with prisoner care are discussed, particularly therapeutic interventions including process models of forgiveness.