Ethnic minority engagement in prison psychological interventions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What factors affect ethnic minority individuals’ engagement in prison psychological interventions: A Grounded Theory.
IRAS ID
298156
Contact name
Jacqui Scott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Despite the "continued overrepresentation" of individuals from minority ethnic groups in the UK prison population (Ugwudike, Rayner & Annison, 2017), ethnic minority individuals are underrepresented in prison interventions (Cowburn & Lavis, 2009), with white ethnic group prisoners accounting for 75% of intervention uptake (MoJ, 2019).The Bradley Therapy Service (BTS) is a therapy service offering a trauma pathway based in Kent Prisons. The service has previously replicated national findings, with regards to uptake of interventions by ethnic minority referees being lower than that of their white counterparts.
Restrictions currently in place due to Covid-19 have affected provision of interventions in Kent Prisons. Group intervention material has been adapted to work-books and a limited number of psychology telephone sessions are offered. It has been observed that since these measures have been implemented, uptake by individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds has improved.
The study aims to establish what processes affect engagement in prison psychological interventions, from the perspective of ethnically minoritised individuals who are offered psychological support, whether currently engaged in support or not. Specifically, it will look at whether there are processes that facilitate or dissuade access.
The study will also aim to identify if there are any aspects of the Aspire Higher Programme that help facilitate ethnic minority engagement. This programme is provided by The Safety Box, an organisation that aims to increase inclusivity and improve cultural competence within prisons.
As a grounded theory approach will be used, participants will be recruited for interview until reaching saturation of data (Charmaz, 2014).
This study is supported by the University of Hertfordshire in collaboration with BTS. Provisional approval has been granted from the Research and Development Team, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. The study is anticipated to be completed by June 2022, and submitted for publication to peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to relevant stakeholders.
Summary of Results
Participants discussed barriers to accessing therapy, namely a feeling of needing to be tough to get through difficult circumstances, stigma and a lack of trust in professionals. They also described the process they went through in overcoming these barriers. All participants were positive about their experience of therapy and the rapport they established with their therapist, despite previous reservations. All participants struggled to make suggestions of how their experience of therapy could have been improved, as they felt sessions were relevant and they gained practical skills and personal insight.
Ways of overcoming cultural differences within the therapeutic space were discussed. Participants expressed that they would like to engage further with both psychological interventions and other interventions available in prison, helping to break the chain of mistrust in services and planning for future engagement, factors that are likely to reduce the likelihood of reoffending as well as improving wellbeing.However, what participants did describe as needing improvement was the service’s effort to reach out and be more visible to EM individuals. This was made most apparent by two participants who described not being aware of therapeutic input available prior to attempting to end their lives, despite the organisation being in-house. It seemed that helping to demystify psychology by transparency in what can be offered and visible efforts to engage with people could start to counter fear and mistrust of services. Participants spoke about the importance of balancing encouragement to access interventions with a sensitive approach that enables choice, to minimise replicating wider power imbalances.
Many participants felt it was important to see themselves represented in services with more diverse staffing. More diversity in services might also help to counter preconceptions, as participants were pleasantly surprised by seeing staff from an EM background. Participants felt that a more informal approach via prisoner mentors would allow for more flexibility for individuals to access support at their own pace which may also feel less daunting than committing to formalised sessions. As well as promoting choice and autonomy, it seemed that such an initiative could be particularly beneficial for younger people who may be influenced by others whom they perceive as role models.
These findings build upon the limited research looking at experiences of accessing therapy by EM prisoners, specifically those in the general prison population. The study has contributed knowledge around the barriers to access in the context of prison, the process by which individuals overcome reservations and how therapeutic services can be more responsive to the needs of a diverse prison population. Perhaps most importantly, the study adds to a small but growing body of research that challenges the narrative that EM men are hard to engage therapeutically, and offers an optimistic outlook for reparative, positive relationships with professionals.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
21/WA/0283
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion