title: Social networks and psychological disability among housed and homeless users of self-help agencies.
abstract: We look at the effects of psychological disability on social networks and support of homeless and non-homeless individuals. We analyze a survey of 310 long-term users of client-run mental health agencies. Psychological disability is negatively associated with network characteristics for housed individuals, but not for the homeless. There is a positive relationship between psychological distress and network size for the homeless who receive SSI while homeless individuals who do not receive SSI show a negative, non-significant association. We suggest the financial resources of SSI enable network members to become expressively involved with homeless individuals with relatively more psychological disturbance.
authors.affiliation: Center for Self-Help Research, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Temkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012495:San Francisco; D012943:Social Security; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work