title: Comparisons of family environment between homeless and non-homeless individuals with schizophrenia in Xiangtan, Hunan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homelessness is an increasingly important problem for individuals with serious mental illness in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identify the characteristics of families that are associated with homelessness among individuals with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 1856 homeless individuals with schizophrenia (defined as those who had no place of residence or involved caregivers for 7 consecutive days) and 1728 non-homeless individuals with schizophrenia from Xiangtan, Hunan. The self-completion Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) was administered to these participants after their acute psychotic symptoms resolved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to individuals in the non-homeless group, those in the homeless group were older and more likely to be non-locals (i.e., from outside of Xiangtan), be residents of rural (versus urban) communities, have temporary (versus permanent) jobs, be married, and have a low level of education. After controlling for demographic differences using multivariate logistic regression models, homelessness was independently associated higher scores in the FES-CV intellectual-cultural orientation, organization, achievement orientation, and control subscales and with lower scores in the FES-CV cohesion, moralreligious emphasis, independence, and active-recreational orientation subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After controlling for sociodemographic factors, certain aspects of the family environment areassociated with being homeless among patients with schizophrenia in China. Further work is needed to identify interventions that can reduce the risk of homelessness in high-risk individuals.
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Jinliang
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Mental Health Research Center, Xiang Ya Second Hospital of Zhong Nan University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Jindong
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Shuchun
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Guohua
authors: G
authors: Ouyang
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Wenxuan
authors: W
authors: Luo
authors: Mental Health Research Center, Xiang Ya Second Hospital of Zhong Nan University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Xiaofeng
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Li
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Kaijie
authors: K
authors: Li
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Zhenkuo
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Fifth Ren Min Hospital of Xiangtan, Hunan, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China.
authors: Gan
authors: G
authors: Wang
keywords: China; family environment; geriatric depression; homelessness; schizophrenia