We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Physical health status, substance use and abuse, and mental disorders among homeless adults.
- Authors
Struening, Elmer L.; Padgett, Deborah K.
- Abstract
To understand the influence of substance use, substance abuse, and mental disorder on the health status and physical condition of homeless adults, representative samples of 949 men and 31) women residing in the New York City shelter system for homeless adults during the summer of 1987 were interviewed with a structured protocol. A typology of ten groups was identified, based on their profiles on 7 measures of substance use, substance abuse, and mental disorder. Their scores on 16 measures of self rated health status and lifetime prevalence of physical conditions were the dependent variables. Results indicated strong associations between the degree and kind of involvement with drugs, alcohol, and mental problems and the respondents' physical health status. Homeless adults characterized by heavy use and abuse of substances and symptoms and/or histories of mental disorder reported the highest rates of poor physical health. Those involved only in the use of substances or in none of the 7 problems consistently reported the best health. Implications of the findings for policy determination are discussed.
- Subjects
HOMELESS persons; PHYSICAL fitness; SUBSTANCE abuse; MENTAL illness; ALCOHOLISM; HEALTH
- Publication
Journal of Social Issues, 1990, Vol 46, Issue 4, p65
- ISSN
0022-4537
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1540-4560.1990.tb01799.x