Substance Use and Psychological Distress is Related With Accommodation Status Among Homeless Immigrants

Immigrant homelessness constitutes a cruel expression of social exclusion. We analyzed the relation of sociodemographic characteristics with stressful life events, substance use and psy- chological distress, giving a special importance to the influence of the time spent on the streets and the accommodation status of 107 homeless immigrants. To this end, both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were combined. Discussion groups with care resources practitioners and service users, were followed by in depth interviews combined with psychometric question- naires. Results show clear interrelations between stressful life events, alcohol and drug use, psychological distress, and the duration of (current) homelessness. This information, and espe- cially the contextualization which took place within the analytical framework of this project, may provide practitioners and policymakers with information that can help overcome barriers pre- venting homeless immigrants’ full citizenship and social participation

Publication Date: 
2016
Pages: 
1-11
Volume: 
In press
Issue: 
November 2016
Journal Name: 
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry