Victimization and traumatic injuries among the homeless: associations with alcohol, drug, and mental problems

Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1992 Oct;62(4):525-34. doi: 10.1037/h0079369.

Abstract

Data from a 1987 survey of 1,260 homeless adults in New York City show that mental problems and substance dependence were significantly linked to beating and sexual assault among women and to several types of injury and victimization among men. The extremely high rates of victimization and injury underscore a need for greater attention to the safety and welfare of homeless people.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology*
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / psychology
  • Ill-Housed Persons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Personality Inventory
  • Psychotic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology
  • Social Environment
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Violence*
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / psychology