An analysis of attachment, social support, and static variables as predictors of risk of recidivism among male offenders in a halfway hous

This study was designed to examine the relationship between attachment styles, social support behaviors, and recidivism among male offenders. Participants were male offenders between the ages of 18 and 60 who were residents of a correctional halfway house facility located in the Northeast who had less than eighteen months to complete on their sentences. The male offenders participated in a work release program as they transitioned back into the community. During the transition, male offenders were assessed to determine their level of preparation for release. They were required to participate in individual and group counseling at the halfway house. Fifty-nine males volunteered to participate in the study. The researcher measured attachment styles, social support perceptions, and parental bonding in determining mining the relationship of these variables to risk of recidivism. Participants in the study were administered the Level of Service Inventory (Andrews & Bonta, 1995), the Experiences in Close Relationships (Fraley & Waller, 1998), Social Support Questionnaire (Sarason, Sarason, Shearin, & Pierce, 1987), the Parental Bonding Instrument (Parker, Tippling, & Brown 1979), and the Reciprocal Attachment Questionnaire (West & Sheldon-Keller, 1988).;Correlation coefficients were computed between the various subscales and the demographic variables. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the variables considered predictive of risk of recidivism. There was a moderate negative relationship found between Mother overprotection and social support satisfaction. Although non-significant, there was a weak, inverse relationship found between the social support satisfaction and risk of recidivism. No differences were found among male offenders in relation to their attachment styles as compared to the general population. However, neither attachment styles nor social supports were found to be predictive of risk of recidivism. Furthermore, insecure attachment styles of the male offenders were predominantly fearfully avoidant and dismissively avoidant. While these attachment styles are indicative of the potential for difficulty in close relationships, the findings did not support an overall pathological pattern of attachment. An unexpected finding was that the age of the male offender was found to be a significant predictor of risk of recidivism. As age decreased, the risk of recidivism increased. There were no significant differences found in male offenders by years of education, and years of incarceration in relation to risk of recidivism.