title: Objective community integration of mental health consumers living in supported housing and of others in the community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Housing programs for people with severe mental illnesses aim to maximize community integration. However, little is known about how the community integration of mental health consumers living in supported housing compares with that of other community residents in the socially disadvantaged communities where supported housing is often located. The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of objective community integration of mental health consumers living in supported housing and of other persons living in the same communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 124 adults (60 mental health consumers and 64 other community residents) residing in designated zip codes in the Bronx, New York. Participants were administered measures of psychiatric symptoms, substance use, physical community integration (participation in local activities), social integration (interactions with community members), and citizenship (political activism or volunteering).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mental health consumers living in supported independent housing had significantly lower scores on indicators of objective community integration than other community members. However, differences were relatively small. Among mental health consumers, African-American race, education, and length of time in current residence were associated with better community integration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that mental health consumers living in supported housing may not achieve levels of objective community integration that are comparable with other community members; however, psychiatric factors did not account for this difference. Length of time in neighborhoods appears to be an important factor in facilitating social integration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice–City University of New York, 524 W. 59th St, New York, NY 10019, USA. pyanos@jjay.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Philip T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Yanos
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stefancic
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsemberis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011638:Public Housing; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D012917:Social Adjustment; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors