Black and white homeless men: differences in self-actualization, willingness to use services, history of being homeless, and subjective health ratings.
In this analysis of racial confounds in the study of homelessness and self-actualization, 100 black and 71 white homeless men from a mission and a street environment were compared to test the hypothesis that the prototypes of black and white homeless men are different. Discriminant analysis of items from the Short Index of Self-actualization of Jones and Crandall, willingness to use services, history of homelessness, and self-reported health ratings correctly classified 83.6% of black and white homeless men (Wilks' lambda = .46, p < .0001). The prototypic black homeless person and the prototypic white homeless person have strong differences so race must be evaluated in studies of such groups.
Sumerlin
J R
JR
Department of Allied Health and Physical Education, Medgar Evers College/CUNY, Brooklyn.
Privette
G
G
Bundrick
C M
CM
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005431:Florida; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011632:Public Assistance; D012649:Self Concept; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology