Homeless sheltered women's health promotion behaviors
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Frances Anderson Ballard (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Carolyn Blue
Abstract: While previous research has been conducted with sheltered homeless women, there is a gap in scientific knowledge relevant to the health-promoting behaviors of sheltered homeless women and factors associated with these behaviors. Using Pender's Health Promotion Model as the framework, a cross-sectional, correlational design was used to obtain data from a convenience sample of 126 sheltered homeless women in central North Carolina. Measures used for the study were the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II, Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale, and Personal History Form. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients were calculated.
The majority (54%) of the women using the shelters were African American. The average age was 42 years old and 70% were 40 years or older. Most reported being single, high school graduates, unemployed, and lacking health care coverage. Many of the women reported they were not the primary caretaker of their children.
Homeless women reported many barriers to health care services, although most reported they were able to access the multiple health care services available for physical health problems and for preventive care check-ups. Access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services and dental care were, however, difficult. Although more than half of the women reported their health was good to excellent, significant physical and mental health problems such as chronic physical disorders (e.g., hypertension, asthma, arthritis, STDs) were reported. More than half the women reported symptoms of depression but fewer than half reported symptoms of anxiety. There were positive significant correlations between health rating and the scores on HPLP II total scale and all subscales (health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management) and the SRAHP total scale and the subscales of psychological well-being and nutrition. There were positive correlations between social and emotional support and the HPLP II total scale and subscale scores (spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. There were significant positive correlations among all scores on the SRAPH and the HPLP II. Self-efficacy for health practices and social and emotional support were significant predictor variables for health promoting behaviors and explained 55.1% of the variance in health promoting behaviors. This study is the first to use Pender's HPM to examine the relationships between self-efficacy for health practices, mental health, and health-promoting behaviors of sheltered homeless women.
Homeless sheltered women's health promotion behaviors
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Created on 5/1/2009
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Health behaviors, Health promotion HPLP II, Homeless shelters, Homeless women, Pender's health promotion model, Self-efficacy SRAHP
- Subjects
- Homeless women $x Health and hygiene.
- Homeless women $x Medical care.
- Homeless women $x Services for.
- African American homeless women $z North Carolina $x Social conditions.
- Self-efficacy.
- Shelters for the homeless.