title: Homeless women's perceptions of their situation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Dancy
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Barge
mesh_terms: 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