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Mental health and social characteristics of the homeless: A survey of mission users

Author

Listed:
  • Fischer, P.J.
  • Shapiro, S.
  • Breakey, W.R.
  • Anthony, J.C.
  • Kramer, M.

Abstract

Selected mental health and social characteristics of 51 homeless persons drawn as a probability sample from missions are compared to those of 1,338 men aged 18-64 years living in households from the NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey conducted in Eastern Baltimore. Differences between the two groups were small with respect to age, race, education, and military service but the differences in mental health status, utilization patterns, and social dysfunction were large. About one-third of the homeless scored high on the General Health Questionnaire which measures distress. A similar proportion had a current psychiatric disorder as ascertained by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), with the homeless exhibiting higher prevalence rates in every DIS/DSM III diagnostic category compared to domiciled men. Homeless persons reported higher rates of hospitalization than household men for both mental (33 per cent vs 5 per cent) and physical (20 per cent vs 10 per cent) problems but a lower proportion received ambulatory care (41 per cent vs 50 per cent). Social dysfunction among the homeless was indicated by fewer social contacts and higher rates of arrests as adults than domiciled men (58 per cent vs 24 per cent), including multiple arrests (38 per cent vs 9 per cent) and felony convictions (16 per cent vs 5 per cent). Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of research and health policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Fischer, P.J. & Shapiro, S. & Breakey, W.R. & Anthony, J.C. & Kramer, M., 1986. "Mental health and social characteristics of the homeless: A survey of mission users," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 76(5), pages 519-524.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1986:76:5:519-524_5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Allgood, Sam & Moore, Myra L. & Warren, Ronald Jr., 1997. "The Duration of Sheltered Homelessness in a Small City," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 60-80, March.
    2. Jeffrey Stovall & Joseph Flaherty, 1994. "Homeless Women, Disaffiliation and Social Agencies," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 40(2), pages 135-140, June.
    3. Daphne C. Hernandez & Sajeevika S. Daundasekara & Michael J. Zvolensky & Lorraine R. Reitzel & Diane Santa Maria & Adam C. Alexander & Darla E. Kendzor & Michael S. Businelle, 2020. "Urban Stress Indirectly Influences Psychological Symptoms through Its Association with Distress Tolerance and Perceived Social Support among Adults Experiencing Homelessness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Paraskevi Chondraki & Michael G Madianos & Elena Dragioti & George N Papadimitriou, 2014. "Homeless mentally ill in Athens area: A cross-sectional study on unmet needs and help-seeking," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(6), pages 544-553, September.
    5. Walid Abdul Hamid & Til Wykes & Stephen Stansfeld, 1993. "The Homeless Mentally Ill: Myths and Realities," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 39(4), pages 237-254, December.
    6. Lee, Christopher Thomas & Guzman, David & Ponath, Claudia & Tieu, Lina & Riley, Elise & Kushel, Margot, 2016. "Residential patterns in older homeless adults: Results of a cluster analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 131-140.
    7. M. Audrey Burnam & Paul Koegel, 1988. "Methodology for Obtaining a Representative Sample of Homeless Persons," Evaluation Review, , vol. 12(2), pages 117-152, April.
    8. Tobin, Karin E. & Winiker, Abigail & Moran, Marybeth & Felsher, Marisa & Owczarzak, Jill, 2023. "No one runs alone: Combining community-based program evaluation with photo elicitation interviewing among people experiencing homelessness," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

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