Homeless women's perceptions of their situation.
While a plethora of data describes homeless women's demographic characteristics and health status, a paucity of data exists on homeless women's perceptions of their housing situation. This exploratory-descriptive study of 70 shelter-residing women expands knowledge of homeless women. Content analysis of focus groups revealed that homelessness meant loss of autonomy-marginal control over their lives and uncertainly about their own and their children's future. Loss of autonomy was manifested as mental strain: feeling depressed, worried, and scared. They were especially concerned about the impact of shelter-living on their children. Shelter-living was not viewed as child-friendly.
Dancy
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BL
College of Nursing, Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Barge
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FC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health