Assessing Trauma, Substance Abuse, And Mental Health in a Sample of Homeless Men (Report‪)‬

Although much of the literature on posttraumatic stress and homelessness focuses on women or families (Banyard, Williams, & Siegel, 2001; Bassuk, Buckner, Perloff, & Bassuk, 1998; Bassuk, Dawson, Perloff, & Weinrub, 2001; Bean & Moiler, 2002; Gully, Koller, & Ainsworth, 2001; Ryan, Kilmer, Cauce, Watanabe, & Hoyt, 2000; Tyler & Cauce, 2002), the majority of homeless people are men (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2002). Men tend to remain homeless longer and report more episodes of homelessness than women (Grimm & Maldonado, 1995; Sumerlin, 1999). Although women are more likely than men to report symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), men are at higher risk than women for exposure to psychological trauma (Kessler, Sonnega, Brommet, & Nelson, 1995). Psychological trauma and PTSD may have a substantial negative effect on the lives of already vulnerable homeless men, particularly those who are experiencing serious mental illness or addictive disorders, but a review of the research literature has determined that these questions have not been systematically studied with men (Kim & Ford, 2006). There are many potential reasons why research on mental health and addictions and psychological trauma among homeless people has focused primarily on women and largely excluded men: Compared with homeless women, homeless men tend to more often live in isolation (homeless women often are caring for children or involved in family relationships), to be severely psychiatrically impaired, and to be military veterans with severe PTSD. All of these conditions may make homeless men less readily accessible to or less willing to engage with researchers than homeless women. These factors are directly related to psychological trauma and PTSD in many, if not most, cases, thus making it particularly important to investigate the role of exposure to traumatic stressors and experiencing problems with posttraumatic stress in the fives of homeless men.