The influence of social support and sentence length on meaning in life among incarcerated women in Ecuador

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Abstract
Introduction: This study examined the influence of social support and sentence length on the sense of meaning in life among incarcerated women in Ecuador. Methods: This study employed a non-experimental, cross-sectional design with descriptive, correlational, and exploratory components. Data were collected via a convenience sample of 30 women serving final sentences. The Purpose in Life (PIL) test, the MOS Perceived Social Support Questionnaire, and official records on offense type and sentence duration were employed. Results and discussion: Results indicated that, on average, participants reported moderate levels of meaning in life, with a tendency toward positive scores. Spearman’s correlation revealed a moderate, positive, and statistically significant relationship between perceived social support and meaning in life (r s = 0.40, p = 0.030), a finding confirmed through permutation testing ( p = 0.033). The Firth logistic regression showed a positive but non-significant trend for social support ( β = 0.64, OR = 1.90, 95% CI [0.89, 4.63]) and a small effect for sentence length ( β = 0.023, OR = 1.02, 95% CI [0.95, 1.12]), with an area under the ROC curve of 0.67, indicating modest predictive capacity. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the study was powered to detect effects of r ≥ 0.49 with 80% confidence. Findings suggest that higher perceived social support is associted with greater meaning in life, highlighting its importance as a potential protective factor for the psychological well-being and rehabilitation of incarcerated women.

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