When social problems converge: homeless, mentally ill, chemical misusing men in New York City.
Despite their pervasiveness in large American cities, homeless, mentally ill, chemical misusing (HMICM) people have rarely been studied as a sociological phenomenon. In this study, 518 HMICM men who sought community-based treatment were interviewed at length on their psychosocial characteristics, family background, and childhood history. The findings show these HMICM men to have severe psychiatric and substance misuse problems. Examination of their family background reveals a common pattern represented by the absence of their fathers and often of their mothers from very early age. Fatherlessness and social rootlessness are hypothesized as related to the HMICM syndrome.
Rahav
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Argus Community Inc., Department of Research and Evaluation, Bronx, New York 10456, USA.
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D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010553:Personality Development; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012940:Social Problems / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data