Stressful life event experiences of homeless adults

A comparison of single men, single women, and women with children

Bibliographic Data

ID11044690
AuthorsCarole Zugazaga (Auburn University, corresponding author)
Year2004
Volume32
Issue6
Pages643-654
Publication date2004-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-4392 • E-ISSN: 1520-6629
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jcop.20025
OpenAlexW2166735802
LanguageEN
Citations received44
References cited24

This article describes stressful life events experienced by a multi‐shelter sample of 162 homeless adults in the Central Florida area. Participants included homeless single men ( n = 54), homeless single women ( n = 54), and homeless women with children ( n = 54). Subjects were interviewed with a modified version of the List of Threatening Experiences (Brugha & Cragg, 1990). Findings indicate that the two groups of women were more likely to have been both physically and sexually abused as children than single men. Single women were more likely to have experienced sexual violence over the age of 18, experienced domestic violence, and been hospitalized in a psychiatric facility. Single men were more likely to have abused drugs and alcohol, and to have been incarcerated. Women with children were more likely to have lived in foster care. Overall, single women experienced significantly more stressful life events than single men and women with children. These findings suggest that the three groups are unique and would benefit from prevention and/or treatment approaches developed for the specific subgroup. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 643–654, 2004

Developmental psychology · Psychiatry · Single mothers · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Homelessness and Social Issues · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology