Abstract:
The purposes of this descriptive correlation research were: 1) to examine depression of prisoner with methamphetamine dependence, and 2) to study the relationships between selected factors including gender, age, history of illness with chronic disease, history of alcohol consumption, time of punishment, self-esteem, self-stigma, coping with stress, and social support with the depression of prisoners. A total sample of 165 prisoners, who met the inclusion criteria, was stratified random sampling from prisons/correctional located in upper north region. Research instruments consist of 1) The Addiction Scale (V.2), 2) The Psychiatric Assessment Scale (BPRS), 3) demographic data sheet, 4) The Coping Scale, 5) The Self-Esteem Scale, 6) The Self-Stigma Scale, 7) The Social support Scale, and 8) The Depression Scale (BDI-IA). All instruments were validated for content validity by 5 experts and tested for reliability. The Cronbachs Alpha coefficient reliability of the 2nd, and 4th to 8th instrument was .82, .87, .86, .82, .83 and .91, respectively. Statistic techniques utilized in data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square, Point biserial correlation and Pearsons Product Moment correlation. Findings were summarized as follow: 1. The margority of prisoners with methamphetamine dependence had moderate depression (33.9%). By overall most of them (52%) had depression in a moderate, high, and severe levels. 2. Coping by problem-solving with self-efficacy, by using other support resources, and avoidance coping were associated with depression among prisoners (c2= 94.23; p<.05). 3. Period of punishment and self-stigmatization was positively associated with depression among prisoners (r = .446 and .340; p<.05, respectively). 4. Age, self-esteem and social support had a negative correlation with depression among prisoners with methamphetamine dependence with (r = -.292, -.404 and -.396; p<.05, respectively). Gender, history of Illness, and history of alcohol consumption was not significantly correlated to depression among this population.