Social Pressure, Stigmatisation, Bereavement, Depression, and Empowerment as Predictors of Recidivism among Inmates in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Recidivism remains a major challenge in correctional centres worldwide, with multiple psychosocial and structural factors influencing the likelihood of reoffending. This study investigated the reliability, interrelationships, and contributions of social pressure, stigmatisation, bereavement, depression, and empowerment in predicting recidivism among inmates in correctional centres in Southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive-correlational design was adopted, and a sample of 400 inmates was purposively selected. Data were collected using structured instruments measuring social pressure, stigmatisation, bereavement, depression, empowerment, and recidivism. Reliability analyses, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were conducted to examine the relationships and predictive contributions of the variables. The results revealed that all exogenous variables were significantly related to recidivism. Stigmatisation had the strongest positive association (r = .636, p < .01), followed by depression (r = .587, p < .01), bereavement (r = .516, p < .01), and social pressure (r = .349, p < .01), whereas empowerment showed a significant negative relationship (r = -.410, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that the predictors jointly explained 53.4% of the variance in recidivism (R² = .534, F(6, 393) = 89.42, p < .001). Relative contribution analysis showed that stigmatisation was the most influential predictor, while empowerment acted as a mitigating factor. The findings underscore the multifactorial nature of recidivism, highlighting the interplay between social, emotional, and personal factors. It is recommended that correctional centres implement integrated rehabilitation programs targeting stigma reduction, mental health support, empowerment initiatives, and prosocial peer networks to reduce reoffending. Future research should explore additional psychosocial and institutional factors and assess the long-term effectiveness of intervention strategies.