Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-02

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Charles E. Connerly, Florida State University, College of Social Science, Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed Sept. 23, 2009). Additional advisors: Kenneth L. Wilson, Jeffrey Hall, Christopher Taylor, Max Michael. Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-284).

Suicidal ideation among the homeless is 10 times greater than in the general population. Therefore, research helping mental health professionals better predict and potentially prevent suicide within the homeless population is an important societal focus. Various cognitive theories of depression and hopelessness have been proposed to explain suicidality, however, to date, none of these are able to fully explain the phenomenon. More recently, Shneidman has suggested a theory of psychache (i.e., unbearable psychological pain) to explain suicidality. Although this theory has been supported by investigations with university students, there has not been much research exploring psychache with populations at high risk for suicide. The current study attempts to assess Shneidman’s theory with a high risk population, namely the homeless. Ninety-seven men were recruited at homeless shelters and drop-in centres. Participants completed questionnaires assessing criterion measures of suicidality and psychological predictors of depression, hopelessness, life meaning, and psychache. Analyses revealed that psychache was the only variable with statistical predictive ability over and above the other three psychological variables in predicting suicide ideation, motivation, preparation, and attempt history. This finding indicates that psychache is a better predictor of suicidality than depression, hopelessness, and life meaning and supports Shneidman’s model of psychache as the most proximal cause of suicide. Results also indicate the potential use of a scale assessing psychache in mental health settings to predict those who are, and are not, at risk for suicide. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-08-05 17:49:11.178

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 30, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

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This dissertation contributes to the existing literature on aging and health in human geography by exploring the relationships among homelessness, stable housing, and opportunities for healthy aging. Over the last 30 years, various social, economic, spatial, and political trends have reshaped Canadian society. These trends have resulted in a more complex, individualized life course in the 21st century, characterized by a greater number of delays and divergences as people adapt to the societal changes that have unfolded. Outcomes of such trends have been increasing rates of household financial problems, a greater incidence of absolute poverty, and growth in the homeless population. At the same time, Canada is undergoing demographic changes as the population ages and by 2030, it is estimated that approximately 25 percent of Canada’s population will be 65 years of age or older (Moore and Rosenberg, 2001). In this context, it is likely a greater proportion of the older population will have experienced homelessness in their life compared to previous generations (McDonald et al., 2006). Presently, academic research and public policy have failed to consider how people with histories of homelessness will fare in older age. This dissertation addresses this unexplored area of research through the achievement of three broad objectives. First, the research contributes an original conceptualization of the long-term effects of homelessness on health and aging. Second, it explores how stable housing can improve homeless people’s opportunities for healthy aging. Third, the research provides a better understanding of how being homeless in earlier life can affect experiences of health and aging in later stages of the life course. The fieldwork to achieve these goals involved a structured survey (N=50) and interviews (n=29) with a sample of formerly homeless older people in Toronto, Canada. The findings reveal that older people with histories of homelessness are aging in a more disadvantaged context than the general older population. Various aspects of stable housing can improve health and offer a better opportunity for positive experiences of aging. However, formerly homeless people continue to face barriers to affordable, quality housing and other determinants of a healthy lifestyle in older age. / Thesis (Ph.D, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-05 16:08:50.051

This secondary research study uses data from two convenience samples of homeless persons in Central Arkansas collected during 2004 and 2011 Point in Time Counts. The prevalence of predictors of homelessness are compared across years, and also compared by age (<50 and > 50) controlling for year of survey. The number of older adults increased significantly between 2004 and 2011 surveys, and reporting serious mental illness and veteran status significantly decreased from 2004 to 2011. Age differences were noted in 2004 with older adults more likely to report serious mental illness in comparison to younger adults. Older adults were also more likely to report veteran status in comparison to younger adults during both the 2004 and 2011 surveys. The predictors of homelessness -- including serious health problems, substance abuse, race, age, and developmental disabilities-- remained fairly consistent from 2004 to 2011 and across "age groups". In addition to Point in Time data, qualitative surveys and interviews of providers were performed for their observations of the older homeless population. Providers indicated their belief that the older homeless population is increasing. Providers suggested possible challenges and reasons for the increase among older adults who are homeless. In central Arkansas, service providers feel the current economy, programs, and agencies that provide homeless services and funding sources are adequate at this time as evidenced by no increase in numbers. Due to new funding, improvement has occurred with the veteran population through VA programs. Even though this research did not find any change in gender, the providers feel that for future homeless, trends in gender (women in poverty), as well as older adults becoming homeless for the first time, should be watched in addition to other predictive factors such as the economy, increase in substance abuse, and physical and mental health concerns.