HOMELESSNESS AS PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA - BROADENING PERSPECTIVES

被引:228
作者
GOODMAN, L
SAXE, L
HARVEY, M
机构
[1] BRANDEIS UNIV,HELLER SCH,WALTHAM,MA 02254
[2] BOSTON UNIV,BOSTON,MA 02215
[3] CAMBRIDGE HOSP,CAMBRIDGE,MA 02139
关键词
D O I
10.1037/0003-066X.46.11.1219
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
Most mental health literature on homelessness has focused on characteristics that may be risk factors for homelessness. The authors of this article argue that homelessness itself is a risk factor for emotional disorder and use the construct of psychological trauma - focusing on social disaffiliation and learned helplessness - to understand the potential effects of homelessness. Psychological trauma is likely among homeless individuals and families for three reasons. (a) The sudden or gradual loss of one's home can be a Stressor of sufficient severity to produce symptoms of psychological trauma. (b) The conditions of shelter life may produce trauma symptoms. (c) Many homeless people - particularly women - become homeless after experiencing physical and sexual abuse and consequent psychological trauma. Research suggests that negative psychological responses to traumatic events can be prevented or mitigated by a supportive and empowering posttrauma environment. The implications of trauma theory for improving the psychosocial conditions of homeless people are discussed.
引用
收藏
页码:1219 / 1225
页数:7
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