Ronald Aday is a Professor of Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University. He conducts prison research and has published several books on the topic including Aging Prisoners: Crisis in American Corrections, Women Aging in Prison and Women Lifers: Lives Before, Behind, and Beyond Bars as well as over 60 articles and book chapters. Address: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Page 1. CHANGES IN NURSING STUDENTS' ATTITUDES AND WORK PREFERENCES AFTER A GERONTOLOGY ... more Page 1. CHANGES IN NURSING STUDENTS' ATTITUDES AND WORK PREFERENCES AFTER A GERONTOLOGY CURRICULUM Ronald H. Aday Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA ...
The problem of providing mandated medical care has become commonplace as correctional systems in ... more The problem of providing mandated medical care has become commonplace as correctional systems in the United States struggle to manage unprecedented increases in its aging prison population. This study explores older incarcerated women's perceptions of prison health care policies and their day-to-day survival experiences. Aggregate data obtained from a sample of 327 older women (mean age = 56) residing in prison facilities in five Southern states were used to identify a baseline of health conditions and needs for this vulnerable group. With an average of 4.2 chronic health conditions, frequently histories of victimization, and high rates of mental health issues, the women's experiences of negotiating health care was particularly challenging. By incorporating the voices of older women, we expose the contradictions, dilemmas, and obstacles they experience in their attempts to obtain health care. It is clear from the personal accounts shared that, despite court mandates, penal harm practices such as delaying or denying medical treatment as well as occasional staff indifferences are common in women's prisons. With older women having the greatest need for health care, an age- and gender-sensitive approach is recommended.
Age-integrated programming has become an effective way to bring the young and old closer together... more Age-integrated programming has become an effective way to bring the young and old closer together. This paper describes a 9-month intergenerational program designed to establish a more intimate involvement between a group of 4th graders and elderly volunteers from Senior Neighbors. The format used to organize the project is presented, and ongoing activities and program benefits are identified. The goals of this project have been richly met, reducing students' fears and misconceptions about aging and providing a satisfying experience for the seniors.
... Newsletter material can make the text-book material more real. ... The newsletter can be an e... more ... Newsletter material can make the text-book material more real. ... The newsletter can be an excel-lent source from which to gather such practical applications and can make the lecture more relevant as well as provide a valuable link with practice. ...
For women serving life sentences, adjustments to prison are often marked by thoughts of suicide. ... more For women serving life sentences, adjustments to prison are often marked by thoughts of suicide. Many enter prison with specific vulnerabilities that place them at risk for suicide. Using data on 214 female lifers, the authors examined the extent of suicide ideation prior to incarceration as well as current suicide ideation. The relationships between preprison abuse, mental health indicators, prison adjustment factors, prison and family supports, and time served along with sociodemographic variables were analyzed with respect to four categories of preprison and current suicide ideation. Multinomial logistic regression results indicated significant group differences in suicide ideation for abuse histories, depression, family and prison supports, and education level. Among the preprison ideation groups, current depression—not abuse history—distinguished between women with or without current ideation. That is, the way women coped with past abuse was a stronger predictor of current suicide ideation than abuse itself.
Journal of Research in Childhood Education, Jun 1, 1996
Abstract This article explores the longitudinal impact of an age-integrated program designed to b... more Abstract This article explores the longitudinal impact of an age-integrated program designed to bring the young and old closer together. The project paired 24 fourth-graders with 24 elderly volunteers from a senior citizens center, and involved a number of shared ...
Using community-based sites for older adult intervention and self-care activities may promote an ... more Using community-based sites for older adult intervention and self-care activities may promote an ability to maintain an independent lifestyle.
A growing body of research—much of which has focused on male inmates—suggests that religion ameli... more A growing body of research—much of which has focused on male inmates—suggests that religion ameliorates many pains and problems of imprisonment. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of religious engagement on prison adjustment among a sample of 214 females serving life sentences in a Southern state prison system. Results of multivariate analyses indicate that religious engagement is indirectly related to prison adjustment; however, the role that religious engagement plays seems to be through helping women deal with feelings of depression. Women’s personal accounts of prison adjustment corroborate these findings.
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Mar 1, 1994
This exploratory study focuses on the experience of aging in prison among those classified as the... more This exploratory study focuses on the experience of aging in prison among those classified as the new elderly offenders. Using a case study approach, in-depth interviews were conducted in the summer of 1992 at a maximum-security reception center in the Southeast. The sample consisted of 25 new elderly offenders, with a mean age of 68 years. Major variables assessed in the study include personal background and family life, criminal activities, physical health, and strategies for coping with prison life. It was found that the new elderly offender's initial reaction to incarceration later in life was often characterized by family conflict, depression, thoughts of suicide, and a fear of dying in prison. Findings from this research present evidence that prison programs should be expanded to accommodate the needs of this older offender subgroup.
Prison populations are experiencing rapid increases and many more offenders are dying in prison. ... more Prison populations are experiencing rapid increases and many more offenders are dying in prison. This study investigated key variables associated with death anxiety among a group of aging prisoners. For this research, 102 respondents residing in a maximum security prison with a mean age of 59 completed Templer's Death Anxiety Scale. A regression analysis showed that age, inmate social supports, and a number of health related variables were important predictors of death fear. The findings revealed that fear of death is slightly higher among older prisoners than for similar age groups in the community. Qualitative information based on personal narratives found that some inmates see death as an escape, while others expressed fears of dying in prison or the stigma associated with imprisonment.
The authors examined changes in children's preceptions of the elderly following participation... more The authors examined changes in children's preceptions of the elderly following participation in a 9-month intergenerational project on aging. The project matched 24 fourth-grade student with 24 elderly subjects from a large senior citizens center. The project involved a number of shared activities throughout the school year. For comparative purposes, these students were matched by grade with a control group (N = 25). Using the Children's Perceptions of Aging and Elderly Inventory, the experimental group was judged to have significantly more positive attitudes toward the elderly than the control group (t = 2.79; p < .01). Results from a 1-year follow-up produced similar differences between the experimental and control groups (t = 2.12; p < .02). Qualitative statements by the experimental group also reveal a very positive attitude toward their own aging as well as toward the utility of the project.
Page 1. CHANGES IN NURSING STUDENTS' ATTITUDES AND WORK PREFERENCES AFTER A GERONTOLOGY ... more Page 1. CHANGES IN NURSING STUDENTS' ATTITUDES AND WORK PREFERENCES AFTER A GERONTOLOGY CURRICULUM Ronald H. Aday Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA ...
The problem of providing mandated medical care has become commonplace as correctional systems in ... more The problem of providing mandated medical care has become commonplace as correctional systems in the United States struggle to manage unprecedented increases in its aging prison population. This study explores older incarcerated women's perceptions of prison health care policies and their day-to-day survival experiences. Aggregate data obtained from a sample of 327 older women (mean age = 56) residing in prison facilities in five Southern states were used to identify a baseline of health conditions and needs for this vulnerable group. With an average of 4.2 chronic health conditions, frequently histories of victimization, and high rates of mental health issues, the women's experiences of negotiating health care was particularly challenging. By incorporating the voices of older women, we expose the contradictions, dilemmas, and obstacles they experience in their attempts to obtain health care. It is clear from the personal accounts shared that, despite court mandates, penal harm practices such as delaying or denying medical treatment as well as occasional staff indifferences are common in women's prisons. With older women having the greatest need for health care, an age- and gender-sensitive approach is recommended.
Age-integrated programming has become an effective way to bring the young and old closer together... more Age-integrated programming has become an effective way to bring the young and old closer together. This paper describes a 9-month intergenerational program designed to establish a more intimate involvement between a group of 4th graders and elderly volunteers from Senior Neighbors. The format used to organize the project is presented, and ongoing activities and program benefits are identified. The goals of this project have been richly met, reducing students' fears and misconceptions about aging and providing a satisfying experience for the seniors.
... Newsletter material can make the text-book material more real. ... The newsletter can be an e... more ... Newsletter material can make the text-book material more real. ... The newsletter can be an excel-lent source from which to gather such practical applications and can make the lecture more relevant as well as provide a valuable link with practice. ...
For women serving life sentences, adjustments to prison are often marked by thoughts of suicide. ... more For women serving life sentences, adjustments to prison are often marked by thoughts of suicide. Many enter prison with specific vulnerabilities that place them at risk for suicide. Using data on 214 female lifers, the authors examined the extent of suicide ideation prior to incarceration as well as current suicide ideation. The relationships between preprison abuse, mental health indicators, prison adjustment factors, prison and family supports, and time served along with sociodemographic variables were analyzed with respect to four categories of preprison and current suicide ideation. Multinomial logistic regression results indicated significant group differences in suicide ideation for abuse histories, depression, family and prison supports, and education level. Among the preprison ideation groups, current depression—not abuse history—distinguished between women with or without current ideation. That is, the way women coped with past abuse was a stronger predictor of current suicide ideation than abuse itself.
Journal of Research in Childhood Education, Jun 1, 1996
Abstract This article explores the longitudinal impact of an age-integrated program designed to b... more Abstract This article explores the longitudinal impact of an age-integrated program designed to bring the young and old closer together. The project paired 24 fourth-graders with 24 elderly volunteers from a senior citizens center, and involved a number of shared ...
Using community-based sites for older adult intervention and self-care activities may promote an ... more Using community-based sites for older adult intervention and self-care activities may promote an ability to maintain an independent lifestyle.
A growing body of research—much of which has focused on male inmates—suggests that religion ameli... more A growing body of research—much of which has focused on male inmates—suggests that religion ameliorates many pains and problems of imprisonment. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of religious engagement on prison adjustment among a sample of 214 females serving life sentences in a Southern state prison system. Results of multivariate analyses indicate that religious engagement is indirectly related to prison adjustment; however, the role that religious engagement plays seems to be through helping women deal with feelings of depression. Women’s personal accounts of prison adjustment corroborate these findings.
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Mar 1, 1994
This exploratory study focuses on the experience of aging in prison among those classified as the... more This exploratory study focuses on the experience of aging in prison among those classified as the new elderly offenders. Using a case study approach, in-depth interviews were conducted in the summer of 1992 at a maximum-security reception center in the Southeast. The sample consisted of 25 new elderly offenders, with a mean age of 68 years. Major variables assessed in the study include personal background and family life, criminal activities, physical health, and strategies for coping with prison life. It was found that the new elderly offender's initial reaction to incarceration later in life was often characterized by family conflict, depression, thoughts of suicide, and a fear of dying in prison. Findings from this research present evidence that prison programs should be expanded to accommodate the needs of this older offender subgroup.
Prison populations are experiencing rapid increases and many more offenders are dying in prison. ... more Prison populations are experiencing rapid increases and many more offenders are dying in prison. This study investigated key variables associated with death anxiety among a group of aging prisoners. For this research, 102 respondents residing in a maximum security prison with a mean age of 59 completed Templer's Death Anxiety Scale. A regression analysis showed that age, inmate social supports, and a number of health related variables were important predictors of death fear. The findings revealed that fear of death is slightly higher among older prisoners than for similar age groups in the community. Qualitative information based on personal narratives found that some inmates see death as an escape, while others expressed fears of dying in prison or the stigma associated with imprisonment.
The authors examined changes in children's preceptions of the elderly following participation... more The authors examined changes in children's preceptions of the elderly following participation in a 9-month intergenerational project on aging. The project matched 24 fourth-grade student with 24 elderly subjects from a large senior citizens center. The project involved a number of shared activities throughout the school year. For comparative purposes, these students were matched by grade with a control group (N = 25). Using the Children's Perceptions of Aging and Elderly Inventory, the experimental group was judged to have significantly more positive attitudes toward the elderly than the control group (t = 2.79; p < .01). Results from a 1-year follow-up produced similar differences between the experimental and control groups (t = 2.12; p < .02). Qualitative statements by the experimental group also reveal a very positive attitude toward their own aging as well as toward the utility of the project.
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