Title:

Self-Concept and Coping on Pre-Release Women Prisioners in Semarang of Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose: Women prisoners that approaching freedom tend to have psychosocial problem like

feel more worried about their status as an ex-convict. They are incapable to face the

psychosocial problem optimally to carry out the screening of the problem. The purposes of

this study are to know the Self-concept and Coping on pre-release women prisoners.

Design: This research was conducted in one of the Indonesian penitentiary and used

qualitative and descriptive-quantitative as a method. The number of samples in this study

were 20 pre-release women prisoners. The samples were taken by using purposive sampling

technique. The data was collected using Coping Scale for Adult (CSA) instruments for

Coping consist of 25 statements and instruments of Self-Concept Scale for Self-concept

consist of 20 statements.

Findings: The analysis of this study used univariate and frequency distribution. The results

showed that The Coping on pre-release women prisoners as a subject has average value 78.70

out of 100 and the other hand for The Self-concept has a value 68.00 out of 80. The higher

the value of Coping and Self-concept, the better the coping and self-concept of the pre-

release women prisoners. There are six result themes of this study: pre-release physical

condition, self-acceptance of pre-release women prisoners, psychological response, spiritual

response, problem-based coping, and emotional-based coping.

Research limitation/implications: These results are expected to influence early intervention

strategies for the prevention of maladaptive behavior during in prison or after release. In

addition, research about Coping on pre-release women prisoners might also lead to new

therapeutic implementations in prisons.

Originality/value: Applying the therapeutic settings in prisoner, such as therapy for groups

or individuals based on the type of coping.

Keywords: Self-Concept, Coping, Prisoners, Women, Penitentiary Pre-release

Introduction

The latest data of 2017 shows that the total number of women prisoners in Indonesia are

8,805 people as inmates and 3,625 people as prisoners (PAS, 2017). The number has

increased so that causing excess capacity in prisons, such as one prison in Indonesia shows

the existence of over capacity as many as 188 women prisoners, while the normal capacity is

174. The inmates who inhabit the prison consists of 322 prisoners and 40 prisoners, while the

number of pre-release prisoners are 60 people.

The crimes committed by women are largely due to gender-based gaps, socio-economic

conditions, and the influence of technological developments, ultimately leading to women

having more time outside the home and the more opportunity to commit minor crimes such as

stealing, gambling, prostitution or trafficking and also heavier criminal acts that usually

committed by men such as drug business (drug dealer or courier), fraud (embezzlement), and

even murder.

The women prisoners who know about the date of their freedom or commonly called pre-

release women prisoner will have an inner concern about their status as prisoners, so they feel

ashamed, insecure and fearful. These conditions are part of a low self-concept. They who

have a low self-concept could cause emergence maladaptive coping response that is a desire

to not interact with others, feel guilty, have a desire to commit suicide and revenge. It not

only harms themselves but also others, causing them to go into prison again (recidivism).
Maladaptive coping is often done by women because women are more vulnerable to

psychosocial pressure (Fahad, 2016). Other studies have shown that the results of

measurements with the scale of depression, anxiety, stress levels and low self-concept in

women have higher values than men, so it could be concluded that women are more likely to

experience the condition (Ramli, 2014, Gooding, 2015, Li & Lai, 2015).

Based on the preliminary study conducted by researchers on October 11, 2017 by

interviewing 5 pre-release women prisoners, 4 of them said that they are afraid and worried

about future rejection as an ex-convict especially by the community in their environment,

although the problem arises, they are not willing to tell their problem to the prison officers,

because they feel shy and afraid, and then choose not to socialize, do not want to follow the

coaching activity in the prison because they think that even they follow the activity, it will

has no effect on the problem they will face on the future. The researcher also interviewed two

officers who were in prison who said that all prisoners should attend an existing coaching

program, such as personality and spirituality training activities, but there are still some

prisoners who only follow sport activities, lie in the polyclinic and do not follow other

mandatory activities. The women prisoners who have those problems potentially might have

low self-concept, so that later can affect the condition of coping during the remain prison

term and potentially doing the same mistakes after free. Polyclinic officers also said that

screening psychosocial problems especially on pre-release women prisoners had never been

done before, so during this time, treatment only focus on the physical problems.

Based on the problem above, research on self-concept and coping of pre-release women

prisoners needs to be done, besides still limited, the research that has been done is only the

coping strategy of male teenager in prisons and women prisoners in general. The role of the

nurse community as a researcher is finding cases of psychosocial problems of women

prisoners before they are set free, so that later could integrate with the prison officers to
determine the proper appropriate intervention and preparation for follow-up care even after

the they are free and returning back to the community. This research is useful in determining

the appropriate intervention to overcome the problem of low self-concept and maladaptive

coping on pre-release women prisoners, so that they are ready for their freedom. Based on

that background, the researcher conducted the research tittled "Distribution of Self-Concept

Frequency and Coping on Pre-Release Women Prisoners".

Methods

This design of this research used qualitative and descriptive quantitative methods. Descriptive

is a research method undertaken and aims to create a description of a situation objectively

(Notoatmodjo, 2012). This research was conducted to find out the self-concept and coping on

pre-release women prisoners. The population in this study is the total number of pre-release

women prisoner between October 2017 to February 2018 in prison as many as 60 people.

Sampling technique in this research is purposive sampling. Purposive sampling is a

sampling technique where researchers conduct sampling based on certain criteria and the

criteria set by researchers (Notoatmodjo S, 2012). Hence, the total sample in this study is 20

pre-release women prisoners. Inclusion criteria that have been determined by the researchers:

1) Women prisoner who are will be free in one-four months later; 2) Age between 18-55

years old; 3) No cognitive impairment; 4) No speech impairment or aphasia.

Quantitative data was analyses using univariate and bivariate analysis. Univariate

analysis are performed on age, education, occupation, religion, marital status, and

imprisonment period. Bivariate analysis consists of: First, Pearson correlation is calculated

between variable of age, punishment period, coping and self-concept. Second, thekruskal

wallis correlation is calculated between variable of occupation, marital status, education

against self-concept and coping.

 The research data was obtained by using data collector in the form of a modified coping

instrument between Coping Scale for Adult (CSA) instrument and research instrument used

in previous research. CSA was created and published by Frydenberg & Lewis in 1997. The

CSA were developed based on the transactional model proposed by Lazarus in 1980 by

making judgments and categorizing into problem-based and emotional-based Coping and

generally consist of 19 items, the instruments are widely developed, translated and re-

modified, so that The Coping instrument consists of 25 statement items and all consist of

positive statements. Whereas, the instrument of self-concept using the instrument developed

by William H. Fitts in 1965 is Tennenssee Self Concept Scale, which is an instrument that

can be used to measure Self-concept with Likert scale. The instrument has been widely re-

modified, so the self-concept questionnaire consists of 20 positive statements. The validity

and reliability test for The Coping and Self-concept was tested to another 20 respondents that

different with the research respondents. The Coping instrument has been tested for validity

with the value of r count> r table (0,444) shows a valid instrument to use in research, for

reliability test shows value of cronbach's alpha 0,888 bigger than r table (0,444) so that

instrument is reliable in this research, test the validity of the Self-concept questionnaire

shows the value of r arithmetic> r table (0,444) is the valid instrument to be used in this

research, and for reliability test has value of cronbach's alpha equal to 0,961 bigger than r

table (0,444) so that instrument is reliable in this research.

In this study, the data were collected by giving a questionnaire about Self-concept and

Coping to each of pre-release women prisoner through an interviews. The self-concept

questionnaire consisted of 20 questions measured by Likert scale with a range of values 1 to 4

and for a Coping questionnaire consisted of 25 questions measured by Likert scale with a

range of values 1 to 4. The data analysis method in this study using descriptive analysis. This
method is used by looking at the total value of The Self-concept and Coping variables, so the

higher the value, the better coping and self-concept owned by pre-release women prisoners.
Results

A total 60 participants (Table 1) showed that aged participants were 34.9 ± 8.4 years with

educational background majority were high schools (50%), occupation history was freelancer

(60%),and their status of married was single (65%) with prison term was 46.5 ± 35.2 months.

From measurement of self-concept questionnaire was 68.0 ± 8.3 and total score of coping

from questionnaire was 78.7 ± 11.4. The correlations between characteristic of participants

and self-concept and coping scores were showed in Table 2. The self-concept with

characteristics consist of age, education, occupation, imprisonment period and marital status

are not significantly related, while coping and age have significant relations. In the other

hand, coping with the characteristics consist of occupation, duration and marital status not

significantly related. Coping and self-concept are significantly related. The average score of

prison term on pre-release women prisoner are (M = 46.55, SD = 35.22). The average score

of age are (M = 34.95, SD = 8.35). The average score of self-concept are (M = 68.00, SD =

8.27). The average score of coping of are (M = 78,70, SD = 11,35).

Based on the analysis of interview on five pre-release women prisoners, there are six result

themes of this study: pre-release physical condition, self-acceptance of pre-release women

prisoners, psychological response, spiritual response, problem-based coping, and emotional-

based coping.

Theme #1: Pre-release physical condition

This theme emerges from the physical change’s sub-theme. Physical change sub-theme is

formed from the categories of appearance change, appetite, sleep patterns. Some participants

experienced significant physical changes toward their freedom. This is expressed by most

participants, as this following statement:

 "Oh, I feel my hair fall out during I’m here. It makes me embarrassed. I can’t

lengthen my hair anymore, I’m just telling you"(P1)

Changes of appetite:

"...... but my stomach really feels wrong, I can’t tell you but it's just seem not good, so

I eat less than normal" (P2)

Sleep patterns change:

"I've not been able to sleep well for almost two weeks, I've never experienced this

before. It feels the same as when I first came in here (jail). It makes me dizzy "(P3)

Theme #2: Self-acceptance of pre-release women prisoners

This theme emerged from the sub-themes of flaws in themselves. This sub-theme is formed

from how they see themselves. Some participants have a tendency to blame on themselves

and reject the current conditions.

"...I'm ashamed of myself ... I'm here because I'm wrong, I'm wrong" (P4)

Rejecting current conditions:

“I am here because my friend trapped me, I will never accept this, I am full of

revenge. I don't belong here, I'm innocent "(P5)

Theme #3: Psychological response

Participants emotional process are categorized in feelings of joy, sadness, anxiety, hurt and

resentment. A happy feeling is expressed all by all participants, as in the following statement:

"I'm sure I'm happy, I'll be able to meet my family" (P1)

"I do not know how to say but I'm very excited to see my family again ..." (P2)
 The sad feeling is expressed in the following statement:

".... I'm not sure and a bit confused. What if I am free but I don’t know how or where

to find work. Thinking about it makes me sad, I sometimes cry by myself "(P3)

"My feelings right now ... I want to be free but I also feel sad, sometimes it makes me

angry with myself" (P5)

Anxiety as a manifestation of an uncertain feeling is illustrated in the following

statement:

"... I am afraid, also worried, especially if imagine back home, my neighbor would

know all, know that I am an ex-convict" (P1)

"I don't know but, I am afraid for sure. My neighbors will judge my past" (P3)

"... Yes indeed, I feel so much insecure" (P4)

"I tried so hard not to think about it but I can’t. This feeling haunted me" (P5)

Participant's hurt feeling about being in jail until free

"I have feeling about it, yes, about me got bullied. At first I just stay still but if they

keep doing it, I will fight back. Even though it hurt, I won't apologize. They hurt my

feeling, I still feel it until now"(P3)

"I have a grudge against the person who has put me into jail. I'm so angry. I don't

know what to do, but yes the feeling is still in there" (P4)

Theme #4: Spiritual response

The participant's spiritual response indicated by how often they practice their religion.

Increased frequency of worship is expressed by some participants:

 "Yes, sometimes I go to the church, sometimes I don't" (P1)

"(Smile) ... I don't usually salah (Islamic worship), but if I do, then I salah

continuously 5 times a day" (P3)

Prayer is spiritual communication between creature and God. Prayer is usually done in the

hope for ease of finding employment, wealth, health, and more. The prayer that participants

done in the purpose of ease to finding a job is expressed in the following statements:

"God, I hope I can get another job" (P1)

"O Allah, grant me the ease of seeking a halal sustenance" (P2)

The prayer that participants done in the purpose of asking for happiness are expressed

in the following statement:

"I pray, hopefully after returning back home from jail, I can live happily with my

family, my husband and my child" (P2)

Theme #5: Problem-based coping

This theme is based on the expressing category of thought expressed by five participants with

the following statement:

"I think telling to other about my problem just making a new problem. I don't usually

talk to anyone about my problem. I just keep it by myself" (P1)

"I'm telling nobody about my problem. I keep it" (P3)

Theme #6: Emotional-based coping

This theme is based on the category of surrender and emotional impingement. The

submission to God is expressed in the following statement:

"I let my God to solve my problem no matter what. This is my total submission to

God" (P2)

Showing their emotion through crying also expressed by participants in the following

statements:

"I cried a lot, I cannot describe the feeling but it really hurt" (P4)

"... almost every night I cried" (P5)

Discussion

Based on the results, the self-concept indicates that the pre-release women prisoners feel

worried about their status as an ex-convict. The presence of stigma about ex-convict can also

affect their self-concept in term of dealing with problem in the future. In general, the pre-

release women prisoner saw the stigma as the accusation against them as a villain. Their

status as an ex-convict causes the stigma because they has broke the law, so the community

thinks that the prisoners as criminals and will always commit a crime (Kelly et al., 2014).

The previous related studies about Self-concept and Coping on pre-release women prisoners

is still limited in Indonesia, the existing research is an overview of the anxiety level of pre-

release women prisoners and coping strategies on male teenagers (Ruffaida, 2016, Dewi,

2017).

The difference of this study with previous research lies in the characteristics of

respondents such as gender, location, characteristics of the prison, the number of respondents

and the topic of the issues. The results of self-concept obtained in this study showed an

average value 68.00 out of 20-80, the self-concept is still needs to be improved. The pre-
release prisoners think that when they are free and return to the community, there will be a

stigma about their status as ex-convicts. The limitation in prisons and after out of the prison

cause they are confused about work, so that the inmates feel uncomfortable, embarrassed and

faced difficulties in their life after release (Brent A. Paterline & Douglas Orr, 2016). The

highly unstable environment due to environmental stability (the provision of certain security

in terms of personal life, professional, social role, and social status) plays an important role in

improving self-concept. Imprisonment in prison will have a negative impact on self-defense

called self-security that focuses on the characteristics of self-concept that can be easily

formed (Lysia, 2017). The period of detention in prison causes they have to re-adapt, it is

associated with a new process of stabilization in prison that is the existence of cognitive

transformation that can help to plan and prepare life after free (Lysia, 2017). The inmates

who have a good self-concept show that they are ready to live their life and always think

positively of their status as inmates or ex-convict (Lysia, 2017).

The results of the study showed that the average value of coping owned by pre-release

women presoners are 78.70 scale from 25-100. The average value indicates that The Coping

in women is still needs to be improved. The inmates have different Coping level in response

to the problems in prison, half of the participant said that they are unable to solved the

problem no matter how hard prison officer tried to help them. About one-third of the

participant said that they do not have a friend to talk to, either for emotional support or for

problems solving. Thus, there are some problems that can be solved independently without

the help of others (Ann, 2011).

The pre-release women prisoners tend to isolate themselves to protect their identity due to

the stigma about inmates. They saw a mismatch self-identification as a prisoner, unsure of the

future and tended to blame themselves (Siegel, 2010). They have some anxiety about the

stigma of being an ex-convict, more prejudiced against themselves in a society about being a
stranger when returning back into society. The society alienation and the perception of it

could lead someone into an emotive way (Chamberlen, 2017). Table 3 shows that The

Coping has a significant relationship with age, whereas a more mature will have readiness in

dealing with stressors and determining positive coping ((Leipold, Munz, and Amy, 2018).

The results of data analysis show that self-concept and coping have a significant relation. The

Self-concept and Coping have positive relations, coping approaches, including positive

reassessment and problem solving are positively related to Self-concept. The use of well

Coping skills by women reflects a high self-concept (good) (Kyung, 2011).

Conclution

Based on the results, the pre-release women prisoners are worried about their status as an ex-

convict. The emergence of this stigma can affect the condition of their Self-concept and

Coping in problem solving. The Pre-release women prisoners have self-concept with an

average of 68.00 (20-80) and The Coping of 78.70 (25-100), the higher average value

indicates a better Self-concept and Coping. Thus, this research has several implications,

especially for preventive purposes. These results are expected to influence early intervention

strategies for the prevention of maladaptive behavior during in prison or after release. In

addition, research about Coping on pre-release women prisoners might also lead to new

therapeutic implementations in prisons. For example, apply the therapeutic settings, such as

therapy for groups or individuals based on the type of coping.

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