QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG FEMALE PRISONERS IN SERBIA: GENERAL FINDINGS FROM THE PrisonLIFE PROJECT

Abstract

Continued evaluation of quality of life is important for developing timely interventions, as
research consistently shows that the well-being of female prisoners and rehabilitation outcomes are
closely connected. Conducted within the PrisonLIFE project (No. 7750249, Science Fund of the
Republic of Serbia), this study aimed to explore general dimensions of the quality of life of
incarcerated women in Serbia. Data were collected using the Serbian version of the WHOQOL-BREF
instrument, administered to 88 inmates at the Correctional Institution for Women in Požarevac. The
average participant age was 39 years 7 months (SD = 10 years 10 months, range = 21–74), with an
average sentence length of 6 years and 3 months (SD = 7 years 5 months, range = 2 months–40
years). A majority were first-time offenders (80%), housed in the closed ward (74%), and Serbian
nationals (94%). The most common convictions were for drug-related offences (32%), followed by
aggravated murder (11%) and murder (8%). Most had completed secondary education (48%), and
nearly half had a history of drug use (47%). Among the WHOQOL-BREF domains, the Environment
received the lowest mean score (M = 11.22), followed by Physical Health (M = 12.97). The highestrated
domains were Psychological Health (M = 13.78) and Social Relationships (M = 13.90). Itemlevel
analysis showed the lowest satisfaction in areas related to sexual life, access to healthcare
services, and the healthiness of the physical environment and living conditions. Conversely, inmates
reported higher satisfaction with social support from friends, acceptance of their physical appearance,
physical mobility and the ability to perform daily living activities. In line with the recognised need for
gender-specific approaches in prison health, these findings point to specific concerns regarding
institutional living conditions and healthcare access. Therefore, there is a need for improved
environmental standards and gender-sensitive healthcare policies in the Serbian prison system.