Abstract:This study compared the characteristics of probability samples of homeless adults in Poland (N = 200 from two cities) and the United States (N = 219 from one city), using measures with established reliability and validity in homeless populations. The same measures were used across nations and a systemic translation procedure assured comparability of measurement. The two samples were similar on some measures: In both nations, most homeless adults were male, many reported having dependent children and experienci… Show more
“…The mean age of homeless individuals in the study population was 55.36 years, which was quite typical of the values reported in similar studies for Central European countries [24]. While they most commonly deal with slightly younger populations, American and Western European authors also emphasise the phenomenon of ageing in their homeless populations [5, 32, 33]. …”
Background and ObjectivesThe ways in which homeless individuals cope with stress may differ from those relied upon by the members of the general population and these differences may either be the result or the cause of their living conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the preferred coping style among the homeless and its relationship with alcohol dependence.MethodsThe study included 78 homeless individuals and involved the collection of demographic, sociological, psychological and medical data from each participant. Coping styles relied upon when dealing with stressful situations were assessed using a Polish adaptation of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. Alcohol dependence was assessed using the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and a quantitative analysis of alcohol consumption.ResultsMen accounted for 91.93% of the study population. Nearly 75% of the subjects met the alcohol dependence criterion. Significant relationships were observed between the individual's age, preferred coping style and alcohol consumption level. As an individual’s age increased, the use of emotion-oriented coping styles decreased, while an increase in alcohol consumption was associated with a more frequent use of emotion- and avoidance-oriented strategies.ConclusionsThe findings of this study, similarly to those of many other studies of homeless individuals but investigating other areas (e.g. epidemiology of tuberculosis and traumatic injuries), are an exaggerated representation of associations observed in the general population. The results describe a group of people living on the margins of the society, often suffering from extremely advanced alcoholism, with clear evident psychodegradation. The presence of specific ways of coping with stress related to excessive alcohol consumption in this group of individuals may interfere with active participation in support programmes provided for the homeless and may further exacerbate their problems.
“…The mean age of homeless individuals in the study population was 55.36 years, which was quite typical of the values reported in similar studies for Central European countries [24]. While they most commonly deal with slightly younger populations, American and Western European authors also emphasise the phenomenon of ageing in their homeless populations [5, 32, 33]. …”
Background and ObjectivesThe ways in which homeless individuals cope with stress may differ from those relied upon by the members of the general population and these differences may either be the result or the cause of their living conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the preferred coping style among the homeless and its relationship with alcohol dependence.MethodsThe study included 78 homeless individuals and involved the collection of demographic, sociological, psychological and medical data from each participant. Coping styles relied upon when dealing with stressful situations were assessed using a Polish adaptation of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. Alcohol dependence was assessed using the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and a quantitative analysis of alcohol consumption.ResultsMen accounted for 91.93% of the study population. Nearly 75% of the subjects met the alcohol dependence criterion. Significant relationships were observed between the individual's age, preferred coping style and alcohol consumption level. As an individual’s age increased, the use of emotion-oriented coping styles decreased, while an increase in alcohol consumption was associated with a more frequent use of emotion- and avoidance-oriented strategies.ConclusionsThe findings of this study, similarly to those of many other studies of homeless individuals but investigating other areas (e.g. epidemiology of tuberculosis and traumatic injuries), are an exaggerated representation of associations observed in the general population. The results describe a group of people living on the margins of the society, often suffering from extremely advanced alcoholism, with clear evident psychodegradation. The presence of specific ways of coping with stress related to excessive alcohol consumption in this group of individuals may interfere with active participation in support programmes provided for the homeless and may further exacerbate their problems.
“…They could not demonstrate addiction behaviors, mental illness, or cognitive impairment as observed by the mission staff. Men were chosen because the majority of individuals who sleep in unsheltered locations are middle‐aged males (Toro et al, ; Wasserman & Clair, ). It should be noted that a small sample size was used for this study, and the limitations and challenges of working with the homeless will be addressed later in the paper. I experienced Prototype Two for one night during the summer, at a temperature of 47 degrees, to ensure that the design changes made were conducive for testing on the homeless .…”
On any given night in 2015, over 500,000 people were homeless and 31% of them slept in unsheltered locations. Given the seriousness of this situation, the purpose of this research study was to test a student prototyped, portable shelter with six men who were homeless. Qualitative interview questions were developed by the research team. Six, open‐ended questions for baseline interviews and 11 open‐ended questions were used after the men slept in the shelter for two nights. The men ranged in age from 25 to 56 years and had been homeless for 1–5 years. Two of the men were African American and four were Caucasian. Several themes emerged from the data collected: dignity, safety, security, control, privacy, and portability. While the research team thought that carrying the shelter on your back was a novel idea, none of the men liked this design feature. The majority of men carried backpacks and stated that individuals who are homeless would not carry the shelter, rather they would hide it. Dignity also became an issue, as these men did not want to advertise their homeless condition by carrying the shelter. Safety and security from the “law,” “animals,” and “other homeless” people were other concerns. All of the men liked the privacy and control the shelter provided as it allowed them to eat, sleep, and talk on their cell phone when they wanted to. Giving these men a voice and allowing them to actively sleep in the prototype gave the research team a better understanding of design suggestions needed for portable homeless shelters.
“…Individual and unmarried men make up about 56 percent of the homeless. Many of these men have dependent children, physical health problems and experienced out-of-home placements as children (Toro, Hobden, Durham, Oko-Riebau and Bokszezanin 2014). Individual and unmarried females make up 25 percent (Institute of Medicine 1988).…”
This is an exploration into the philosophical realm of misplaced ethics at an illustrative homeless shelter where human service practitioners should be keeping better focus on delivering services to destitute men in a large industrial city. The question raised is whether or not the cause of the ethical egoism seen there, that results in problems typical of homeless shelters around the world, is structurally based. The problems result in mistrust of the shelter and a diminishment of services to a vulnerable population. Sociologically framed questions serve as a tool for the use of the case method of teaching.
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