Bassuk E L, Weinreb L F, Buckner J C, Browne A, Salomon A, Bassuk S S
Better Homes Fund, Newton, Mass 02159, USA.
JAMA. 1996 Aug 28;276(8):640-6.
To compare characteristics of homeless and low-income housed mothers across economic, psychosocial, and physical health domains.
Case-control study.
Community of Worcester, Mass.
A cross-sectional sample of 220 sheltered homeless mothers and 216 low-income housed (never homeless) mothers receiving welfare.
Income, housing, life events, social support, history of abuse and assault, and mental and physical health.
Comparison of homeless and housed mothers revealed some important similarities and differences. The proportion of homeless mothers with annual incomes of less than $7000 was 46% vs 17% for housed mothers (P<.O1). Homeless mothers experienced more residential instability than the housed mothers (3.8 moves vs 1.8 moves; P<.001) and had smaller support networks (P<.001). More homeless mothers reported severe physical and sexual assault over the lifespan than housed mothers (91.6% vs 81.1 %; P<.003). No significant differences were found between the groups in mental and physical health. However, the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders was overrepresented compared to the general female population. Both groups had lower physical functioning compared to the general population and a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions.
Sheltered homeless mothers had fewer economic resources and social supports and higher cumulative rates of violent abuse and assault over their lifespans than their housed counterparts. However, both groups faced extreme adversity that compromised family well-being. Practitioners and social policymakers need to be cognizant of the multiple economic, psychosocial, and physical health needs of these mothers in providing treatment and developing program interventions.
比较无家可归和低收入有住房的母亲在经济、心理社会和身体健康领域的特征。
病例对照研究。
马萨诸塞州伍斯特社区。
220名住在收容所的无家可归母亲和216名接受福利的低收入有住房（从未无家可归）母亲的横断面样本。
收入、住房、生活事件、社会支持、虐待和攻击史以及身心健康。
无家可归母亲和有住房母亲的比较揭示了一些重要的异同。年收入低于7000美元的无家可归母亲比例为46%，而有住房母亲为17%（P<0.01）。无家可归母亲比有住房母亲经历更多的居住不稳定（3.8次搬迁对1.8次搬迁；P<0.001），且支持网络更小（P<0.001）。与有住房母亲相比，更多无家可归母亲报告在一生中遭受过严重身体和性攻击（91.6%对81.1%；P<0.003）。两组在身心健康方面未发现显著差异。然而，与一般女性人群相比，重度抑郁症、创伤后应激障碍和物质使用障碍的终生患病率过高。与一般人群相比，两组的身体功能均较低，慢性健康状况患病率较高。
与有住房的母亲相比，住在收容所的无家可归母亲经济资源和社会支持较少，一生中遭受暴力虐待和攻击的累积发生率较高。然而，两组都面临着损害家庭幸福的极端逆境。从业者和社会政策制定者在提供治疗和制定项目干预措施时，需要认识到这些母亲在经济、心理社会和身体健康方面的多种需求。
