POWERLESSNESS AND SOCIAL DISAFFILIATION: THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HOMELESS MEN.
Contributors: Louisiana State University Medical Ctr. In New Orleans, S. Of Nursing.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 193
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study, framed within the social disaffiliation theory (Bahr, 1973), explored the meanings of the phenomena of powerlessness and social disaffiliation in homeless men and their perceptions of the effects of these phenomena on their health. The research questions were as follow: "What are the meanings of powerlessness and social disaffiliation among homeless men?," "What factors contribute to homeless men becoming socially disaffiliated?," "What resources and patterns of adaptation and interaction do homeless men use in meeting their physical and psychosocial needs?," and "How do homeless men perceive the phenomena of powerlessness and social disaffiliation as affecting their health?" The sample consisted of 10 homeless men with a mean age of 31.3 years. Data collection was done at a clinic for the homeless in a southern city by means of an interview schedule. The subjects were asked to describe their perceptions of the meanings of being homeless, feelings about health, social support network, and their feelings and experiences about being homeless. The interviews were taped and transcribed verbatim. Based on Giorgi's phenomenological approach for data analysis (cited in Omery, 1983), the study findings revealed six themes: uncertainty, hopefulness, depersonalization, self-rejection, discrimination, and isolation as descriptive of the lived experiences of the 10 homeless men.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-05, Section: B, page: 2441.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CTR. IN NEW ORLEANS, S. OF NURSING, 1991.

School code: 1053.