Abstract

Since the U.S. imprisons more individuals per capita than any other nation, an increasing number of inmates are considered “old” or 50+ years. The present study examined the reflections of 111 older inmates residing in prison. The inmates were asked what it was like to be an older adult in prison. Qualitative thematic analyses revealed themes of negative and positive emotional affect, loss of autonomy, and wasting years. Erikson’s lifespan theory suggests that generativity and ego integrity are critical life goals in late adulthood, while Lawton’s person–environment fit model highlights the stressful nature of the environmental context. However, resilience and adaptation, coupled with generativity-focused pursuits were noted by the inmates, presumably through their participation in the True Grit prison program.