Abstract

PURPOSE
To provide the basic data for nursing intervention to improve the psychosocial adaptation of unemployed homeless by examining the degree of self-esteem, depression, and hope, and the relation of these variables.
METHOD
The subjects were a volunteer sample of 218 unemployed homeless residing at 2 shelters in Seoul and Suwon, Korea. The instruments for this study were Rosenberg's self-esteem scale, Beck's depression inventory, and Miller and Powers's hope scale. Using the SPSS program, the data were analysed by frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
RESULT
1) The degree of self-esteem is, on average, 23.72 points, depression is 24.41 points, and hope is 124.72 points. 2) The degree of self-esteem in the general characteristics of the subjects showed a significant difference by age, marital status, and contact with family. 3) The degree of depression in the general characteristics of the subjects showed a significant difference by age, marital status, and contact with family. 4) The degree of hope in the general characteristics of the subjects showed a significant difference by contact with family. 5) There was a significant positive correlation between the variables of self-esteem and hope, while there was a significant negative correlation between the variables of self-esteem and depression, and hope and depression.
CONCLUSIONS
1) The study identifies psychological characteristics of the homeless. 2) It is required not only to develop nursing intervention programs to improve the degree of self-esteem and hope, and alleviate depression but also to testify the effect of the program. 3) It is needed to develop nursing intervention programs to prevent chronic homelessness.