look at some demographics pertaining to homeless veterans. Within these demographics we see many of the variables that might lead to the development of learned helplessness in veterans, many of them similar to variables that manifest the condition in battered women.
Of all homeless men, 40% are veterans even though veterans comprise only 34% of the total population (Alker, 1991, 1). Homeless veterans in contrast to non-veteran homeless are typically white, educated, and previously or currently married. Research studies demonstrate that veterans who served in Vietnam and the post-Vietnam era are more at risk of becoming homeless than their counterparts who served in earlier military conflicts. Yet, military combat exposure does not appear to be as much of a risk factor for homelessness as do other factors “These veterans had little exposure to combat, but appear to have increased rates of mental illness and addiction disorders. Faced with a lack of affordable housing, declining job opportunities, and stagnating wages, people with these disabilities are more vulnerable to homelessness” (Alker, 1991, 2).
Of all homeless veterans, 1.6% of the population is estimated to be female, and these females are more likely than their male homeless veteran counterparts to be married and suffering from psychiatric illness (Alker, 1991, 2). Further, many of the factors that make veterans more vulnerable to homelessness that are listed above create depression and feelings of low self-esteem and helplessness. This is important because learned helplessness fosters an attitude of hopelessness among homeless veterans, causing them to view the locus of control as external instead of internal. In order to cope, many veterans turn to lifestyle behaviors that increase their feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness, and inability to control the reinforcers in their environment “Many of the lifestyle behaviors of homeless persons, such as ...