Factor structure and risk factors for the health status of homeless veterans.
Homeless veterans have numerous health problems that have been previously characterized as falling into four major subgroups; addiction, psychosis, vascular disorders, and generalized medical and psychiatric illness. Comorbid conditions are common, often involving a combination of psychiatric and medical disorders. Using data from the same survey of homeless veterans that was used to establish these subgroups with cluster analysis, the present study examined the structure of these subgroup patterns through the use of factor analysis. This analysis yielded a five factor solution. They were named "Cardiac", Mood, Stress, Addiction, and Psychosis factors. Factor scores were computed and an odds ratio analysis was accomplished to determine the association between obtaining a high score on a given factor with a number of sociodemographic and homelessness related variables. It was concluded that health status of homeless veterans is a complex condition, but has a clear latent structure demonstrated by factor analysis. Scoring high or low on a particular factor is associated with numerous historical and sociodemographic considerations, notably age, ethnicity, and employment status.
Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. ggold@nb.net
Gerald
G
Goldstein
James F
JF
Luther
Gretchen L
GL
Haas
Cathleen J
CJ
Appelt
Adam J
AJ
Gordon
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology