title: Substance use and psychological distress is related with accommodation status among homeless immigrants.
abstract: Immigrant homelessness constitutes a cruel expression of social exclusion. We analyzed the relation of sociodemographic characteristics with stressful life events, substance use and psychological distress, giving a special importance to the influence of the time spent on the streets and the accommodation status of 107 homeless immigrants. To this end, both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were combined. Discussion groups with care resources practitioners and service users, were followed by in depth interviews combined with psychometric questionnaires. Results show clear interrelations between stressful life events, alcohol and drug use, psychological distress, and the duration of (current) homelessness. This information, and especially the contextualization which took place within the analytical framework of this project, may provide practitioners and policymakers with information that can help overcome barriers preventing homeless immigrants' full citizenship and social participation. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deusto University.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Navarro-Lashayas
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Barcelona.
authors.forename: Francisco Jose
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4163-6545
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Eiroa-Orosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires