title: A comparison of the health and mental health status of homeless mothers in Worcester, Mass: 1993 and 2003.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed background characteristics, health status, and prevalence rates of mental health disorders in 2 studies of homeless mothers conducted in Worcester, Mass, one in 1993 and the other in 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the women taking part in the 2 studies, which involved similar methodologies, on the key variables of interest over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Homeless families taking part in the 2003 study were poorer than those taking part in the 1993 study, and female heads of household in that study reported more physical health limitations, major depressive illness, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from 2003 suggest that the characteristics of homeless mothers changed over the 10-year period assessed. Service providers and shelter staff may need to refine services so that they are responsive to these changing needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. weinrebl@ummhc.org
authors.forename: Linda F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Weinreb
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Buckner
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000385:Aid to Families with Dependent Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health / Q000191:economics