摘要：Objectives. We assessed background characteristics, health status, and prevalence rates of mental health disorders in 2 studies of homeless mothers conducted in Worcester, Mass, one in 1993 and the other in 2003. Methods. We compared the women taking part in the 2 studies, which involved similar methodologies, on the key variables of interest over time. Results. Homeless families taking part in the 2003 study were poorer than those taking part in the 1993 study, and female heads of household in that study reported more physical health limitations, major depressive illness, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusion. Data from 2003 suggest that the characteristics of homeless mothers changed over the 10-year period assessed. Service providers and shelter staff may need to refine services so that they are responsive to these changing needs. The homeless population in the United States comprises a growing number of families, and these families are headed primarily by single mothers. Estimates suggest that each year 420 000 families are homeless, placing more than 900 000 children at risk of compromised developmental and behavioral outcomes. 1 Moreover, homelessness is not an uncommon occurrence among poor families, with as many as 8% of such families experiencing homelessness during a given year. 1 , 2 Studies of homeless families conducted during the early and mid-1990s reported high rates of domestic violence, physical health limitations, and psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. 3 – 5 Such findings have implications for shelter programs and provider practices throughout the country. There have been few opportunities to compare the characteristics of homeless mothers over time. Increases in rates of mood and substance abuse disorders were found in a recent study examining changes in psychiatric illness among single homeless adults over a 20-year period. 6 Methodological limitations across studies, including different definitions of homelessness and sampling, measurement, and geographic variations, have made comparative studies difficult. Hence, little is known about how the characteristics and needs of homeless families have changed in recent years. Understanding the evolving needs of homeless families is critical if effective policies and services are to be developed. We took advantage of an unusual opportunity to compare background characteristics, health status, and rates of mental health disorders and substance abuse among mothers taking part in 2 studies of homeless families conducted in Worcester, Mass, one in 1993 and the other in 2003. Although these studies enrolled different participants, their methodologies were sufficiently similar to enable meaningful comparisons over time on key demographic and health variables.
