Development of Logo-Cinematherapy Program on the Depression Level and Meaning in Life of the College Inmate Students in Camp Sampaguita, New Bilibid Prison

Social exclusion, deprivation of basic rights, absence of freedom, and unfavourable impression of the free society - all these are faced by prisoners of New Bilibid Prison while in detention and completing their prison sentence. In this kind of life situation, loneliness, gloominess, and loss of meaning in life is just a heartbeat away. Pessimistic emotions, unfavourable views about self, experiencing the real situation and scenario of the prison will greatly contribute to depression. Meaning in life is the guiding compass towards a direction in a person’s life. Losing it will make someone experience existential vacuum. The researcher used logocinematherapy, a combination of logotherapy and cinematherapy, as the treatment modality. Beck’s Depression Inventory - 2 and Purpose in Life Test (PILT) were used to select participants; semi-structured interview and focus group discussion results helped determine film selection. The treatment program then underwent pilot testing. Employing the purposive sampling technique, 105 inmate students out of the total population of 236 qualified for the study. Using the Solomon Four-Group Design, eighty students were randomly assigned to four groups. The experimental groups underwent 12 sessions of logo-cinematherapy while those in the control groups availed of and attended the NBP’s regular program. The post-test was given to all the groups. Results reveal that logo-cinematherapy is effective in heightening meaning in life and in reducing depression. Control Group 1 also showed increases in meaning in life and reduced depression levels. Control group 2, however, had unclear results in meaning in life and experienced mild to moderate depression. These results showed that the NBP’s current programs for inmates, though effective, requires revisiting and enhancement to make it effective for all. Logocinematherapy’s inclusion in their programs is thus recommended