[Submission Date]
Summarizing the Major Findings of each Article
Article 1 - Homeless Men and Women: Differential Associations Among. Substance Abuse, Psychosocial Factors, and Severity of Homelessness
This journal article is written by authors named Judith A. Stein and Lillian Gelberg. In this article, they have successfully examined the relationship between homeless men and women and their involvement in criminal activities, mental illness as well as use of drugs.
After their comprehensive study, the authors have found that compared to homeless women, men are more likely to use drugs and tend to be more alcoholic. Homeless men are more involved in criminal activities if they are homeless for a longer period. Comparatively, homeless women are more inclined to live with their children instead of being involved in drug abuse and criminal activities. However, those women who have been through various cultures and situations are more likely to display criminal behavior and higher drug usage compared to homeless men which makes the living situation worse .
Compare to homeless women, it is found that homeless men are more prone to be victimized (physically attacked and robbed) due to their increase use of drugs and alcohol. This is because homeless men go out and after drug intoxication; they become weak physically and lose their senses. The authors have found that because homeless men are victims of criminal behavior, social pressures, victimization and drug use, they are more likely to suffer from mental illness and admitted to mental hospitals for treatment. The authors have titled this activity as “institutionalization.” The community is more likely to support or ignore mentally retarded homeless women but men with mental problems find it extremely difficult to blend into the crowd. Women with mental disorders are more likely to display deviant and criminal behavior that draws attention of the Police.
Article 2 - Homelessness and Its Relation to the Mental Health and Behavior of Low-Income School-Age Children
This journal article is written the collaborative research of John C. Buckner and Ellen L. Bassuk, Linda F. Weinreb and, Margaret G. Brooks. In their research, these authors have examined the manner in which children of housed and homeless behave on a social level. They have also studied the mental health of children supervised by their housed or homeless mother.
Compared to the housed children, homeless children scored higher on clinical ranges for emotional and behavioral ranges. They suffered from increased stress and anxiety levels relative to housed children since the former had to move from location to location and were regularly abused physically. Mothers who had no shelter for longer period tend to be distressful and their children certainly reported some sort of behavioral problems.
Similar Findings among the Two Articles
Differences in Findings in both the Articles
Despite some similarities, the findings about these articles differ largely from the perspective of the area of interest or the subject matter of the authors of these researches. The first article mainly derives findings about the behavior of homeless men and women whereas the second one stresses upon the mental and behavioral conditions of their children.
2. The Manner in which these Researches could help in Further Future Studies
References
Buckner, J. C., Bassuk, E. L., Weinreb, L. F., & Brooks, M. G. (1999). Homelessness and Its Relation to the Mental Health and Behavior of Low-Income School-Age Children. Developmental Psychology , 35 (1), 246-257.
Stein, J. A., & Gelberg, L. (1995). Homeless Men and Women: Differential Associations Among Substance Abuse, Psychosocial Factors, and Severity of Homelessness. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology , 3 (1), 75-86.
