title: Swimming upstream: the strengths of women who survive homelessness.
abstract: A study of the strengths and personal resources of women who had overcome homelessness revealed that the experience of homelessness for these women was a temporary state of disruption resulting from an effort to free themselves from conditions associated with despair, such as abuse or addictions, and to search for a better life. Personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal categories of strengths were identified that enabled these women to move in a positive direction toward health and self-actualization. The synthesizing metaphor "swimming upstream" describes the stoic determination required to go against the overwhelming negative forces of their environment.
authors.affiliation: Psychology/Mental Health Department School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013561:Symbolism; D014481:United States; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health