Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries (January 11 - 14, 2007)

Background: Multi-disciplinary approaches are well-suited to research on homelessness yet are rarely reflected in terms of theoretical influences from the social and behavioral sciences. This paper reports on the role of various disciplinary theories in an NIMH-funded qualitative study of formerly homeless persons with serious mental illness. The study, which was situated within a theoretical framework incorporating ecological (Bronfenbrenner), symbolic interaction (Blumer; Mead) and human capabilities (Nussbaum) theories, was designed to capture experiences of recovery from the service consumer's perspective. Consistent with qualitative inquiry, these theories served as interpretive lenses in developing a grounded theory of how individuals experience mental illness, homelessness and the service systems designed to assist them. The purpose of this paper is to present analyses and empirical findings that demonstrate the varied uses of social and behavioral science theories in qualitative research.

Methods: Life history interviews (2 per person) were conducted with 39 formerly homeless individuals purposively sampled from an earlier study in which participants gave permission to be re-contacted. All study participants had an Axis I diagnosis of severe mental illness; 34 (87%) also had lifetime histories of substance abuse. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, entered into ATLAS/ti software, and analyzed using case study and grounded theory analyses (Strauss & Corbin, 1990; Charmaz, 2006). Coding was done independently by two coders and then cross-checked. Thematic analyses were conducted following methods outlined by Charmaz (2006).

Results: The sample was diverse (1/3 women; 41% white, 41% African-American and 18% Latino/a) and provided rich, detailed life stories. Three major themes were identified: 1) autonomy and choice; 2) sanctuary and personhood; and, 3) personal resources/capabilities. Although the study's original theoretical influences proved valuable, additional theoretical perspectives—social capital, trauma and feminist—emerged as important in understanding the cumulative impact of childhood and adult trauma, depleted social networks, and gendered differences in status loss. Recovery-related gains in the sample were modest and depended primarily upon basic services (such as housing) and the individual's degree of choice and self-direction.

Implications for Practice and Policy: Findings from this study have implications for practice and policy related to the need for greater autonomy and attention to needs beyond psychiatric medications, abstinence and residential supervision. Though not hypothetico-deductive, this qualitative study also demonstrates the utility of theoretical grounding in the social and behavioral sciences, particularly in theories emphasizing empowerment and agency. The role of multi-disciplinary theories in qualitative social work research remains under-developed and need not preclude concerns for advocacy and social justice.