Perceived family adjustment, family strengths, and alienation among homeless persons residing in a metropolitan city of Louisiana

To quantify the relationships between perceived family adjustment and family strengths and perceived alienation (among homeless persons, a pilot study was conducted and then a sample of 130 homeless persons was selected from three agencies that provide services to homeless persons in the greater New Orleans area. The overall substantive hypothesis of this study was that homeless persons feel alienated because family adjustment is lacking and family strengths is diminishing. Four questionnaires--a demographic and socioeconomic data form, the Family Adjustment scale, the Family Strengths scale, and the Alienation scale--were administered. Data were examined statistically by use of means, correlation, and regression analysis.;Results indicated that demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of homeless persons in New Orleans were similar to those of homeless populations in other cities in the United States and that, compared to persons having homes, homeless persons are likely to be younger, single, better educated, unemployed, and disproportionately African-Americans. Homeless males felt more alienated, more powerless, more socially isolated, and more self-estranged than homeless females. Family adjustment and family strengths variables together accounted for 31% of feelings of alienation among homeless persons. However, the family adjustment factor appears with considerably more consistency than family strengths as a significant contributor to feelings of alienation among homeless subjects. The demographic and socioeconomic characteristics evidenced only 3% of variability in common with the alienation scores. Recommendations include cross-sectional and longitudinal as well as qualitative studies by nurse scientists/researchers to identify the pattern of family functioning and feelings of alienation among homeless adolescents, older adults, families, and ethnic groups with the goal of establishing intervention programs for eliminating sources of alienation. Implications for nursing practice include helping the homeless through case management, counselling toward family and social network reintegration, the need for being attentive to perceptions in relation to psychological health, and further research on intervention strategies.