Mothering in Public: A Meta‐Synthesis of Homeless Women With Children Living in Shelters

Abstract

The results may be used by healthcare workers as a framework for developing intervention strategies directed toward helping mothers find new solutions to dealing with shelter living and innovative ways to resolve their homelessness.

Homeless teen mothers: social and psychological aspects

“…The search for support from colleagues and educators represents a survival strategy, but it also triggers anger, fear of dependency, and a disturbed behavior. Comparable findings were observed in other studies (Meadows-Oliver 2003;Meadows-Oliver 2006;Banyard 1995;Hanna 2001).…”

“…Three metasynthesis studies have tried to put together the information obtained from qualitative methodology. Two studies were carried out by Mikki Meadows-Oliver (2003, who examined adult and teen mothers living in shelters. Six reciprocal translations of homeless adult mothers, caring for their children in shelters, emerged: on becoming homeless, protective mothering, loss, stress and depression survival strategies, and coping strategies.…”

The Voices of Single Parent Mothers Who are Homeless: Implications for Early Childhood Professionals

“…Many homeless mothers possess some spiritual connection (Meadows-Oliver 2003;Eyrich-Garg et al 2008). Not all of them are religious in the sense of being Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or other formal adherents, but several believe that a higher power exists.…”

Issues and Strategies Involved in Helping Homeless Parents of Young Children Strengthen Their Self-Esteem

“…How we feel about our parenting, for example, creates a mental framework that strongly impacts the kinds of decision we make as parents. Parents of young children who are homeless express frustration over their splintered view of the parenting process (Meadows-Oliver 2003). They seem to lack a sense of how to nurture children-often because they lack role models to help them develop productive ideas and feelings about parenting (Lindsey 1998).…”

“…Early childhood professionals and others in helping roles can impact homeless parents with parent mentors, advocates who support these parents in gaining new skills, and with parenting programs that emphasize practical ways they can strengthen their relations with their children (Kim et al 2004). Homeless mothers often report that their first encounter with positive role models is within the shelter setting (Meadows-Oliver 2003), or with the teachers of their children (Swick and Williams 2008).…”