Unpacking the Mystery of Health and Wellbeing – Homeless Families in Sydney

Abstract

There has been a surge in the rate of family homelessness across the world and in Australia, with the majority of these families being headed by women. The impact of homelessness and a transient lifestyle is multilayered and has implications for health and wellbeing in this population. However, not all homeless mothers experience the same psychosocial outcomes. In spite of the increased rate of family homelessness, our information regarding this most vulnerable subpopulation is scarce and mostly based on overseas studies which may not be relevant to our social and political environment. This research seeks to contribute to the knowledge surrounding the impacts of homelessness on women with accompanying children and the ways through which some mothers coped more effectively than others. Using a mixed methodology this study explored what the impacts of transient lifestyle are on mothers, what their patterns of coping and resilience are, how mothers with higher coping mechanisms view adversities in life, and the protective resources that seem to help these women to successfully negotiate life. A quantitative methodology was used to collect demographics and elicit sense of coherence (SOC) scores. The study comprised two phases. Phase one aimed to explore the impacts of homelessness at a number of levels through focus group discussions. Twelve focus groups were conducted with mothers living in temporary shelters and their service providers. The main theme of phase one guided the focus of phase two. During this second phase, data were collected from 30 homeless mothers with accompanying children through semistructured interviews. The main theoretical framework informing phase two was based on Antonovsky’s theory of salutogenesis and SOC. Despite the diverse experiences of the mothers, a set of interacting factors appeared central to positive coping outcomes. The knowledge gained through this thesis provides insight into the lives of homeless families and the ways through which some women gain strength against all odds. The findings could be used to inform policy and programs in order to enhance the health and wellbeing of this disadvantaged population.