Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Marshall, Carrie A.
Abstract
The experiences of women in social housing are shaped by their gender, mental health, and trauma, which is overlooked in existing literature. I conducted this research to fill a gap in existing literature. My thesis was conducted in two phases: 1) a scoping review exploring the experiences of women living in social housing with mental illness; and 2) a secondary analysis guided by intersectionality theory (Crenshaw, 1989), which explored the experiences of living in social housing for women living with the effects of trauma. The questions that guided my research were: 1) What are the experiences of women in social housing with mental illness? and 2) What are the experiences of women who have histories of trauma as they live in social housing? My findings indicate that mental illness and trauma intensify the challenges faced by women living in social housing, highlighting the need for targeted research, practice, and policies.
Summary for Lay Audience
Women living with mental illness often face unique challenges when living in social housing. This is especially the case for women who are living with the effects of trauma. I conducted this research to further understand these experiences to inform the development of effective services and policies. I conducted my research in two phases. In Phase I, I conducted a scoping review, which was designed to address the research question: What is the scope and nature of peer-reviewed research on women living with mental illness in social housing? Building on my findings generated in Phase I, I then conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative interviews in Phase II, which was guided by intersectionality theory (Crenshaw, 1989). This secondary analysis was designed to address the research question: What are the experiences of women who have histories of trauma as they live in social housing? My findings indicate that women living in social housing feel unsafe in the environments in which they are situated, that they have unmet mental health needs, and that trauma exacerbates feelings of insecurity and poor mental well-being. These findings indicate the need for implementing trauma and violence-informed care in the operation of social housing. Additionally, increasing the availability of mental health supports to women living in social housing is needed. To alleviate poverty that results in limited choices and has a negative influence on mental well-being, there is a need to reform existing income support policies to better meet the needs of women living in social housing overall.
Recommended Citation
Hariramani, Sneh, "The Experiences of Women Living in Social Housing with Mental Illness and Trauma Histories" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10656.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10656
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.