Social Networks and Homelessness Among Women Heads of Household

Bibliographic Data

ID11054878
AuthorsSiobhan M Toohey (New York University New York New York), Marybeth Shinn (0000-0002-6681-8273, New York University New York New York, corresponding author), Beth C Weitzman (0009-0001-0574-9470, New York University New York New York)
Year2004
Volume33
Issue1-2
Pages7-20
Publication date2004-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-0562 • E-ISSN: 1573-2770
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1023/b:ajcp.0000014315.82860.d2
PMID15055751
OpenAlexW2041902452
LanguageEN
Citations received32
References cited24

To examine possible bidirectional relationships between homelessness and deficient social networks, we compared the networks of 251 mothers before, and approximately 5 years after, their families entered shelters with networks of 291 consistently housed poor mothers. At Time 1, more women on the verge of homelessness than housed women reported that they had mothers, grandmothers, friends, and relatives but fewer believed these network members were housing resources. At Time 2, after homeless women were rehoused, these network differences between consistently housed and formerly homeless women had largely disappeared. Contrary to prior research findings, formerly homeless mothers did not report smaller networks, more children or fewer partners. However, formerly homeless women did report fewer positive functions. Because of city policies, homeless mothers were frequently rehoused far from network members

Health psychology · Political science · Public health · Social network (sociolinguistics) · Sociology · Demography · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies · Gerontology