Mediating Role of Social Support in Mental Health and Life Satisfaction Among

Malaysian Inmates: Structural Equation Model Analysis

The greater focus on community corrections is part of Malaysia’s objective to reduce the
prison population. The initiative is a component of the prison reforms, intensifying
community-based correctional program to be participated in by two-thirds of inmates by the
year 2030. One of the vital elements for implementation is social support, which is connected
with mental health and life satisfaction, as proven by previous studies. Therefore, this study
aims to determine the essential role of social support in the relationship between mental
health and life satisfaction. This study applied a quantitative research design, collecting data
in a cross-sectional survey. A total of 328 Malaysian inmates were involved in this study.
Respondents are selected based on a simple random sampling technique using a sampling
framework. Structural equation modeling (SEM) tests the proposed model and research
hypotheses by applying IBM SPSS AMOS 25. The findings prove that social support plays a
full mediator role in the relationship between mental health and life satisfaction among
Malaysian inmates. Based on the study's results, it is suggested that the Malaysian Prisons
Department formulate appropriate policies and strategies to improve mental health and social
support to meet the inmates' life satisfaction. The aforementioned scenario aligns with the
Malaysian government's objective of Malaysia Madani, which aims to address the challenges
encountered by the populace and foster national improvement.

Keywords: mental health, social support, life satisfaction, Malaysian prison, community
correction

INTRODUCTION

As part of the criminal justice system, the Malaysian Prison Department enforces sentences
imposed by competent authorities. The agency implements rules and regulations to ensure
the proper and equal implementation of punishments. The prison institutions must ensure
security, safe custody, and humane treatment for all inmates serving their sentences. Into the
bargain, the Malaysian Prison Department also provides successful recovery treatment while
inmates serve prison sentences and undergo community. Commensurate with most other
nations, the recidivism rate is used as a proxy for the effectiveness of the Malaysian Prison
Department's operations and roles.

There is an increase in the recidivism rate, which was 18.6% in 2022 compared to 14.93% in
2021. The situation indirectly presents significant challenges of overcrowding, security risks,
increased costs of inmate management, and leakage of the effectiveness of rehabilitation
programmes and the welfare. In order to address this particular difficulty, the agency has
established specific objectives for the forthcoming decade with the aim of reducing
recidivism rates to 10%. This will be achieved through the implementation of strategies that
enhance the effectiveness of community corrections.

METHODOLOGY

LITERATURE REVIEW

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

REFERENCES