title: Attributions of autonomy and competence of older and younger homeless mentally ill.
abstract: This study investigated attributions of autonomy and competence. Respondents completed items following one of four vignettes in which a character was identified as an older male, younger male, older female, or younger female with a history of hallucinations, substance abuse, and living on the street. Respondents viewed the vignette character as suffering from malnutrition, alcoholism, depression, and likely to commit suicide. A General Linear Model revealed harsher perceptions toward the older vignette characters. When controlling for educational exposure to aging and psychopathology, there were significant differences in eight of 37 items (F = 116.270, df = 37, p < .001).
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431-0991, USA.
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Wesley E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Hawkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006304:Health Status; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult