Abstract:
In this study, a protective function of the individual resilience against negative consequences developing during detention of criminal youth in Germany and South Korea is observed. By means of multiple regression analysis, the effect of individual self-regulatory capacity in young detainees is examined on the basis of goal-oriented coping to the changes in self-image of a six-month prison term. With German prisoners, a persistent goal pursuit ability is shown to be a relevant factor influencing the positive development of self-evaluation during detention. However, for Korean youths, a flexible goal adjustment coping strategy results as a crucial variable for the positive change in self-evaluating attitude. In this regard, a causal model based on the mediation analysis, can be confirmed. The goal-related self-regulation method encourages the state of the initiative action readiness in terms of their goals and thus allows a positive development of the general self-assessment in the critical term of imprisonment. These findings indicate the importance of goals and goal-oriented self-regulation for subjective coping with the imprisonment of young inmates in the both countries.