Objective:

To know more about the emotional well-being of women held in prisons in Spain by analyzing the state of mental health they present and investigating the factors that affect them.

Material and methods:

A sample of 434 inmates in Spanish penitentiary centers was studied. An ad hoc designed questionnaire was used and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the variables and to what extent they influence emotional well-being.

Results:

The existence of a statistically significant relationship between the well-being stages and the origin variables (region of origin of the women) and the history of substance addiction were confirmed. No significant relationship has been found for well-being levels from other variables (maternity, social or family support, gender violence or having or not having a partner).

Conclusions:

Having a problematic history of drug use negatively affects the levels of emotional well-being of women detained in prisons. The low levels of substance use in women of Latin American origin is related to their more positive levels of emotional well-being.

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