title: Homelessness as psychological trauma. Broadening perspectives.
abstract: Most mental health literature on homelessness has focused on characteristics that may be risk factors for homelessness. The authors of this article argue that homelessness itself is a risk factor for emotional disorder and use the construct of psychological trauma--focusing on social disaffiliation and learned helplessness--to understand the potential effects of homelessness. Psychological trauma is likely among homeless individuals and families for three reasons. (a) The sudden or gradual loss of one's home can be a stressor of sufficient severity to produce symptoms of psychological trauma. (b) The conditions of shelter life may produce trauma symptoms. (c) Many homeless people--particularly women--become homeless after experiencing physical and sexual abuse and consequent psychological trauma. Research suggests that negative psychological responses to traumatic events can be prevented or mitigated by a supportive and empowering posttrauma environment. The implications of trauma theory for improving the psychosocial conditions of homeless people are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Boston University.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saxe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D012931:Social Environment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*