The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61951

Elizabeth Jackson, PhD¹, Carolynn Crowder, MSW², Betsy Lynn Sleath, PhD³, James H. Galloway⁴, Kathleen C. Thomas, MPH, PhD⁵, Carolyn Kalinowski, MPH⁶, and Joseph P. Morrissey, PhD⁵. (1) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Conner Dr. Ste. 302, Willowcrest Bldg. CB #3386, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3386, (2) Pan Lutheran Ministries, Pam Lutheran Ministries, PO Box 6446, Raleigh, NC 27610, (3) School of Pharmacy Beard Hall, University of North Carolina, CB # 7360, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, (4) Pan Lutheran Ministries, PO Box 6446, Raleigh, NC 27628, (5) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 101 Conner Dr. Ste. 302, Willowcrest Bldg., CB #3386, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3386, (6) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, UNC-Chapel Hill, Rosenau Hall, CB #7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400

Although Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health problem, affecting both men and women, less is known about women who develop PTSD. Previous research suggests that women who are homeless may be exposed to higher rates of violence and therefore may have higher rates of PTSD than other women. This study examines the rates of PTSD (as measured by Foa’s PDS instrument) and their correlates in a unique sample of homeless women, primarily African American, who have children.

Half of the women in this sample reported symptoms suggestive of a PTSD diagnosis. PTSD was significantly related to the total number of traumatic events (range=0 to 10) and also to having experienced physical violence as an adult. In addition to adult violence, many of these women reported childhood trauma. This was not significantly related to having PTSD as an adult. Seventy-five percent of the sample experienced physical violence from a family member or familiar person; 60% of these women said this trauma first occurred before the age of 18. More than half of the sample (58%) reported sexual abuse by someone known to them, and 85% experienced this before the age of 18. When interviewed, 25% acknowledged needing trauma-related services in the past 3 months, but only half of these women received such services. These findings dramatically underscore that PTSD is a significant problem among homeless women and that their access to appropriate and helpful services is limited. Implications for policy and research will be highlighted.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the trauma histories of homeless, African-American women with children
• Identify apparent rates of PTSD and its relationship with traumas experienced

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: group with papers 61917, 61944, and 61965
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.