Women Living in a Homeless Shelter: Stress, Coping and Leisure

Abstract

This study sought to understand the stress experienced by women who lived in a transitional homeless shelter, to explore how the women coped with their stress, and ultimately to identify the role leisure played in helping the women cope. Photo-elicitation was utilized to supplement and clarify data obtained through traditional interviews. Results showed the women experienced a variety of stress, such as chronic stress, negative event stress, and daily hassles. Coping strategies included diversionary activities, getting away, and social support. At times leisure was a coping strategy, while at other times it was a context for coping.

KEYWORDS:

• Women who are homeless
• stress
• coping
• photo-elicitation
• leisure