Abstract
Limited research has examined the factors influencing the successful reintegration offormerly incarcerated women. This study investigated relationships between belief in
redeemability, criminal social identity, coping, discrimination, and stigma on community
functioning and life satisfaction among a sample of 136 formerly incarcerated women.
Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression and binary logistic regression.
Results indicated that belief in redeemability was positively associated with community
functioning, while stronger criminal social identity was associated with both lower
community functioning and lower life satisfaction. Coping, stigma, discrimination, and
ethnicity were not significantly related to community functioning. However, ethnicity,
housing status, maladaptive coping, and criminal social identity significantly predicted
life satisfaction. Specifically, White and unhoused individuals reported lower life
satisfaction, while those endorsing maladaptive coping strategies reported higher
satisfaction. These findings highlight the complex psychological and structural dynamics
affecting reentry outcomes and suggest the need for reentry services that foster positive
identity development, stable housing, and adaptive coping support.