TY - JOUR
T1 - Same as it ever was, only worse
T2 - Negative life events and poverty among New Orleans Katrina survivors
AU - Hawkins, Robert L.
PY - 2009/10
Y1 - 2009/10
N2 - This study is a qualitative grounded theory examination of the pre-and post-Katrina life of hurricane survivors. Forty heads of households with school-age children who lived in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina were interviewed 6 to 8 months apart. Findings suggest that low-income study participants had experienced multiple negative life events linked to their poverty status prior to Hurricane Katrina. Participants described negative life events that included social isolation, physical and mental health problems, high debt or financial insecurity, dangerous neighborhoods, witnessing early deaths, experience with or witnessing violence and child abuse, experience with or witnessing incarceration, and teen pregnancy. Implications for practice and policy include a call for more comprehensive approaches to providing services to low-income families.
AB - This study is a qualitative grounded theory examination of the pre-and post-Katrina life of hurricane survivors. Forty heads of households with school-age children who lived in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina were interviewed 6 to 8 months apart. Findings suggest that low-income study participants had experienced multiple negative life events linked to their poverty status prior to Hurricane Katrina. Participants described negative life events that included social isolation, physical and mental health problems, high debt or financial insecurity, dangerous neighborhoods, witnessing early deaths, experience with or witnessing violence and child abuse, experience with or witnessing incarceration, and teen pregnancy. Implications for practice and policy include a call for more comprehensive approaches to providing services to low-income families.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70849121573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70849121573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1606/1044-3894.3922
DO - 10.1606/1044-3894.3922
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70849121573
SN - 1044-3894
VL - 90
SP - 375
EP - 381
JO - Families in Society
JF - Families in Society
IS - 4
ER -