IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v64y2018i2p189-197.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Coping and resilience among ethnoracial individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness

Author

Listed:
  • Sayani Paul
  • Simon Corneau
  • Tanya Boozary
  • Vicky Stergiopoulos

Abstract

Background: The multiple challenges that ethnoracial homeless individuals experiencing mental illness face are well documented. However, little is known about how this homeless subpopulation copes with the compounding stressors of racial discrimination, homelessness and mental illness. Aims: This study is an in-depth investigation of the personal perceived strengths, attitudes and coping behaviors of homeless adults of diverse ethnoracial backgrounds experiencing homelessness and mental illness in Toronto, Canada. Method: Using qualitative methods, 36 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture the perspectives of ethnoracial homeless participants with mental illness on coping and resilience. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Similar to prior findings in the general homeless population, study participants recognized personal strengths and attitudes as great sources of coping and resilience, describing hope and optimism, self-esteem and confidence, insight into their challenges and spirituality as instrumental to overcoming current challenges. In addition, participants described several coping strategies, including seeking support from family, friends and professionals; socializing with peers; engaging in meaningful activities; distancing from overwhelming challenges; and finding an anchor. Conclusion: Findings suggest that homeless adults with mental illness from ethnoracial groups use similar coping strategies and sources of resilience with the general homeless population and highlight the need for existing services to foster hope, recognize and support individual coping strategies and sources of resilience of homeless individuals experiencing complex challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Sayani Paul & Simon Corneau & Tanya Boozary & Vicky Stergiopoulos, 2018. "Coping and resilience among ethnoracial individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(2), pages 189-197, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:64:y:2018:i:2:p:189-197
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764017748986
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0020764017748986
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0020764017748986?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. North, C.S. & Eyrich, K.M. & Pollio, D.E. & Spitznagel, E.L., 2004. "Are Rates of Psychiatric Disorders in the Homeless Population Changing?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(1), pages 103-108.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jacqueline Kauff & Jonathan Brown & Norma Altshuler & Noelle Denny-Brown & Emily Sama Martin, "undated". "Findings from a Study of the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) Initiative," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 52d74a2c7c5947e58ddad7022, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:6375 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Adam M. Lippert & Barrett A. Lee, 2021. "Adult and Child Food Insecurity Among Homeless and Precariously-Housed Families at the Close of the Twentieth Century," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(2), pages 231-253, April.
    4. Irwin, Jay & LaGory, Mark & Ritchey, Ferris & Fitzpatrick, Kevin, 2008. "Social assets and mental distress among the homeless: Exploring the roles of social support and other forms of social capital on depression," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 1935-1943, December.
    5. Mary-Catherine Anderson & Ashley Hazel & Jessica M. Perkins & Zack W. Almquist, 2021. "The Ecology of Unsheltered Homelessness: Environmental and Social-Network Predictors of Well-Being among an Unsheltered Homeless Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-22, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:64:y:2018:i:2:p:189-197. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.