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Decreasing Psychiatric Symptoms by Increasing Choice in Services for Adults with Histories of Homelessness

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American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Despite the increase in consumer-driven interventions for homeless and mentally ill individuals, there is little evidence that these programs enhance psychological outcomes. This study followed 197 homeless and mentally ill adults who were randomized into one of two conditions: a consumer-driven “Housing First” program or “treatment as usual” requiring psychiatric treatment and sobriety before housing. Proportion of time homeless, perceived choice, mastery, and psychiatric symptoms were measured at six time points. Results indicate a direct relationship between Housing First and decreased homelessness and increased perceived choice; the effect of choice on psychiatric symptoms was partially mediated by mastery. The strong and inverse relationship between perceived choice and psychiatric symptoms supports expansion of programs that increase consumer choice, thereby enhancing mastery and decreasing psychiatric symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The City University of New York Graduate Center, New York, NY

    Ronni Michelle Greenwood, Nicole J. Schaefer-McDaniel & Gary Winkel

  2. Social and Behavioural Science, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Ronni Michelle Greenwood

  3. Pathways to Housing, New York, NY

    Sam J. Tsemberis

  4. School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Cardiff, CF10 3YG, United Kingdom

    Ronni Michelle Greenwood

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  1. Ronni Michelle Greenwood
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  2. Nicole J. Schaefer-McDaniel
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  3. Gary Winkel
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  4. Sam J. Tsemberis
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Correspondence to Ronni Michelle Greenwood.

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Greenwood, R.M., Schaefer-McDaniel, N.J., Winkel, G. et al. Decreasing Psychiatric Symptoms by Increasing Choice in Services for Adults with Histories of Homelessness. Am J Community Psychol 36, 223–238 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-005-8617-z

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