The research question "what is the effect of self-concealment and help-seeking on homeless and non-homeless female domestic violence victims," is worthy of investigation because the homeless population remains largely comprised of female domestic violence victims. Previous research has failed to discover and eliminate reasons for this situation. Although there are a limited number of homeless shelters available, studies show that a sizable number of the homeless population make little or no use of these shelters. It has also been found that homeless people have a sizable social network and regular contact with family members (Toro, Bellavia, Daeschler, Owens, Wall, Passero, & Thomas, 1995). Research does suggest however, that self-concealment results in a reduction in help-seeking activities, which may lead to homelessness. Previous studies have tended to focus on homeless domestic violence victims, failing to compare data to a non-homeless population. This study will compare samples from both groups. Terror management theory offers a theoretical construct to further understand tendencies for self-concealment in this population. This theory states that fear of death is an unconscious and primal concern and that the individual attempts to survive by promoting their own self-esteem to buffer against anxiety, and this entails the seeking of others to share in their view. Thus if the individual views their plight as negative, they may conceal it in an effort to survive. The findings for this study will provide information unique to the domestic violence population that will advance the mental health field and assist with treatment and outreach programs designed to eliminate the problem of homelessness.
The following is a review of the literature relevant to the proposed topic regarding the relationships between self-concealment, help-seeking behaviors, and incidence of homeless and non-homeless female domestic violence victims...