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Describing the homeless mentally ill: Cluster analysis results
Author(s) -
Mowbray Carol T.,
Bybee Deborah,
Cohen Evan
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf00938208
Subject(s) - cluster (spacecraft) , psychology , population , health psychology , mentally ill , descriptive statistics , sample (material) , stereotype (uml) , applied psychology , clinical psychology , public health , social psychology , mental health , psychiatry , mental illness , medicine , computer science , statistics , chemistry , nursing , environmental health , mathematics , chromatography , programming language
Presented descriptive data on a group of homeless, mentally ill individuals (N = 108) served by a two-site demonstration project, funded by NIMH. Comparing results with those from other studies of this population produced some differences and some similarities. Cluster analysis techniques were applied to the data, producing a 4-group solution. Data validating the cluster solution are presented. It is suggested that the cluster results provide a more meaningful and useful method of understanding the descriptive data. Results suggest that while the population of individuals served as homeless and mentally ill is quite heterogeneous, many have well-developed functioning skills--only one cluster, making up 35.2% of the sample, fits the stereotype of the aggressive, psychotic individual with skill deficits in many areas. Further discussion is presented concerning the implications of the cluster analysis results for demonstrating contextual effects and thus better interpreting research results from other studies and assisting in future services planning.