Factors Influencing Homelessness in Women

Abstract

The specific aims of the article were to: (i) compare childhood experiences of intimacy and autonomy as they occurred in the families of origin of women who have and women who have not experienced homelessness; (ii) compare social support, reciprocity, and conflict as they occurred in the childhood support networks and in the current support networks of women who have and women who have not experienced homelessness; (iii) examine the relationships between intimacy and autonomy in families of origin and the social support networks from childhood of women who have and women who have not experienced homelessness. Descriptive correlational design: 255 women were interviewed to determine levels of intimacy, autonomy, social support, reciprocity, and conflict in childhood relationships. The ANCOVA models for each of support, reciprocity, and conflict indicated a significant group effect. The post-hoc analysis for support indicated that the homeless group was significantly lower in support and reciprocity and significantly higher in conflict than the never-homeless groups. The never-homeless, never-abused group scored significantly higher on autonomy and intimacy than the homeless or the never-homeless, abused groups. This study demonstrates the significance of families of origin and learning how to develop and utilize support systems in preventing or reducing homelessness.

The Ecology of Homelessness

“…Further, the homeless women reported more conflict in their relationships than the housed women. This finding is echoed in an Anderson and Rayens (2004) study of 255 women, of whom 98 were homeless, 88 had never been homeless but experienced childhood trauma (physical and/or sexual abuse), and 73 had never been homeless and did not experience childhood trauma. When compared to the two groups of non-homeless women, the homeless women had significantly lower levels of social support and significantly higher levels of relationship conflict.…”

Expanding early childhood mental health consultation to new venues: Serving infants and young children in domestic violence and homeless shelters

“…In addition, homelessness has adverse effects on parenting behavior (Torquati, 2002). Due to the range of stressors linked to homelessness, homeless mothers are less able to support and offer reciprocity to young children (Anderson & Rayens, 2004). Given the important links between a mother's mental health and a child's well‐being, consultants must bring attention to the parent and the child.…”

“…The parent's availability and ability for relationships may be understandably compromised, yet are crucial for mitigating the effects of extreme forms of stress (e.g., homelessness and domestic violence) on the child's personality development (Bradley, 2007). Recent studies (Anderson & Rayens, 2004; Harpaz‐Rotem, Rosenheck, & Desai, 2009) of homeless mothers have demonstrated an association between a mother's mental status and her child's well‐being, and have suggested that treatment of the mother's symptoms influences the child's mental health.…”

“…Instead of preventing or dictating action, empathy and understanding can guide how things are done. ECMHC that invites reflection on the caseworkers' own struggles with their clients and the job can infuse empathy into the work with homeless mothers, who grapple with intimacy, authority, autonomy, and reciprocity more than do their stably‐housed counterparts (Anderson & Rayens, 2004).…”

Stories From the Streets: Identity Management Strategies of Low Status Groups

“…A number of macro (poverty, low-wage jobs, welfare reform, lack of affordable housing, lack of health insurance) and micro (domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse) level factors are related to homelessness (Anderson & Rayens, 2004). For instance, unemployment, money problems, and drug and alcohol abuse were the most prevalent reasons for homelessness among 230 homeless individuals (O'Toole et al, 2007).…”