Psychosocial Crises and Coping Among the Homeless in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Date
2018-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Homelessness is a pervasive social problem that has devastating impacts on affected individuals
and poses severe challenges to policymakers in developing countries. This study investigated
psychosocial distress associated with homelessness and the effectiveness of coping strategies used to
manage such distress. Homeless individuals aged 10 years and above in the Greater Accra region of
Ghana constituted the research population. An explanatory mixed-method design comprising a crosssectional
survey (study I) and a one-on-one interview (study II) was employed. A sample of 183
participants, consisting of 86 homeless (47.0%) and 97 non-homeless (53.0%) individuals with an age
range of 14 – 49 years (M=24.95, SD=8.75), was drawn for the study. The non-homeless participants
served as control only for the assessment of psychosocial distress associated with homelessness. The
Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Modified PTSD
Symptom Scale-Self Report, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, the Somatic Symptom Scale
– 8, and the Brief COPE Scale were employed as instruments for data collection in Study I. Semistructured
interview guide was developed for data collection in Study II. Analyses of data in study I
revealed significantly higher level of psychosocial distress among homeless participants than nonhomeless
participants; greater use of adaptive coping strategies than maladaptive coping strategies among
the homeless participants; and significant associations between maladaptive coping and psychosocial
distress. Thematic analyses of qualitative data in Study II exposed the unique experiences of homeless
individuals, their coping behaviors, and the outcomes of such coping behaviors. The findings highlight
the need for timely and appropriate interventions to address the psychosocial crises facing the homeless in
Ghana.
Description
MPhil.
Keywords
Psychosocial Crises, Coping, Homelessness, Greater Accra Region, Ghana