Subjective and inter-subjective meanings associated with peer caregiving amongst male and female peer support workers in two US state prisons

Abstract

With the increasing number of older, frail, disabled and dying persons in US prisons and other Western nations, awareness of the need and value of high-quality peer care is growing. This paper provides a qualitative analysis of the perceptions and experiences of male and female peer carers in two US prisons regarding their roles. The data in this paper were collected via two focus groups (n = 15) and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings were organised using Bronfenbrenner’s (2000) ecological systems framework and emphasize the issues that hold meaning for the male and female peer caregivers, and the factors that motivated and sustained them in their roles, often in the face of complex inter-personal and environmental stressors. Three thematic areas emerged: ‘motivation and benefits’, ‘challenges and costs’, and ‘learning’ associated with caregiving. The findings reveal there are several differences and similarities between male and female caregiver experiences. However, both groups enjoyed intrinsic and extrinsic rewards associated with their roles. Male peer caregivers appear to be motivated by issues related to identity, masculinity, and religious beliefs, while women were driven by the value of meaningful relationships. To our knowledge this is the first paper to describe and contrast the views and experiences of male and female peer caregivers in prisons.