Religion in the Lives of Older Women Serving Life in Prison

This exploratory qualitative study examined the roles of religiousness in the lives of 21 older women (mean age = 63) serving life sentences in one southern state. Based on survey and focus group methodology, several themes emerged as important focal points, including early religious experiences prior to incarceration, imprisonment and religious doubt, participation in formal and informal religious activities, and use of religion in coping with stressors such as interpersonal relationships, trauma, and health statuses. Irrespective of their religious upbringing, all participants agreed that religiosity/spirituality played a key role in their ability to cope with their prison experience as well as for maintaining hope and the opportunity for release.     

Readers' responses ... medical noncompliance

The Second Opinion staff invited a number of its readers who are physicians to respond to our recent Case Stories section on medical noncompliance, which included a case story by Kevin Coleman and commentary and overview by Arthur W. Frank (Second Opinion 17, no. 3 [January 1992]). Our thanks to those who shared their reflections, a number of which have been excerpted here.