THE EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS VIEWED THROUGH THE EYES OF HOMELESS SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN.
Contributors: Ohio State University.
Published: 1990
Number of pages: 127
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: Over 30% of the homeless population are children. The purpose of this study was to describe what it is like to be a homeless school age child from the child's perspective. The researcher's perspective was derived from the assumptions of Lazarus and Folkman and Piaget. A qualitative, descriptive design was used to study school-ager's experiences of being homeless. Thirty-three homeless children, aged 7 to 12, participated in the study. The Child's Version of the Homeless Children Interview Schedule designed by Wagner and Menke was used to obtain data from the children. The Ethnograph program facilitated data analysis. Credibility was assured by adhering to the process of naturalistic inquiry described by Lincoln and Guba. Children described their view of the homeless experience. One half said being homeless was being sad, worried, uncomfortable, poor, embarrassed, or different. One fourth described being homeless as not that bad. One fourth of the children did not verbalize their feelings. Children dreamed and wished for happy homes, lots of money, toys, games and clothes. Homeless school-agers viewed the homeless experience in a variety of ways. Those children who did not live at shelters did not consider themselves homeless. Children remembered conflict or happiness in their past environments. They were tolerant of shelters and satisfied with being doubled up, or placed in apartments or motel rooms. Homeless children perceived that moving, leaving home, missing friends, changing schools, and being teased for living at a shelter were the major difficulties in the homeless experience. Other stresses included: parents fighting or separating, fear of harm coming to their families, being nervous when called upon in the classroom, and fear of gang fights in the neighborhood.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-10, Section: B, page: 4777.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, 1990.

School code: 0168.