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Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 7 no. 2 (2026)

Mental Health and Quality of Life among Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) in the Province of Sultan Kudarat: A Descriptive Study

Ross Ann G. Gomez | Elsie I. Montealegre

Discipline: Psychology and Health

 

Abstract:

Persons deprived of liberty often experience increased psy-chological distress and reduced quality of life as a result of incar-ceration-related conditions such as overcrowding, social isolation, and limited access to healthcare services. This study aimed to as-sess the mental health status and quality of life of persons de-prived of liberty in selected jails within the province of Sultan Kudarat and to determine the relationship between these two var-iables. A descriptive–correlational research design was employed, utilizing validated instruments: the Adult Mental Health Contin-uum–Short Form and the WHOQOL-BREF. A total of 247 respond-ents were selected through stratified random sampling. The findings revealed that most respondents were classified as flourishing in terms of mental health, with high scores in per-sonal growth, sense of purpose, and emotional resilience. Overall quality of life was rated as good, particularly in domains related to interpersonal relationships and daily functioning, although rela-tively lower scores were observed in physical health and emo-tional well-being. A weak but statistically significant relationship (ρ = .167, p = .008) was found between mental health and quality of life. These results indicate that, although mental health and quality of life are associated, other factors may also influence the overall well-being of this population. The study supports the development of a targeted mental health enhancement program aimed at im-proving rehabilitation outcomes and facilitating successful reinte-gration into society.



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