Rebecca E Grattan1, Valerie L Tryon1, Natalia Lara1, Sonya E Gabrielian1, Joy Melnikow1, Tara A Niendam1. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Davis School of Medicine (Grattan, Tryon, Lara, Niendam), and Center for Healthcare Policy and Research (Melnikow), University of California, Sacramento, Sacramento; ISN Innovations, Institute for Social Neuroscience, Melbourne, Australia (Grattan); Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Gabrielian); Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, West Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Gabrielian).
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The experience of homelessness for young people can affect social, emotional, and physical development, resulting in poorer physical and mental health outcomes. To reduce rates of youth homelessness, a better understanding of both risk and resilience is needed to inform future intervention development. This article presents a systematic review of published research reporting risk or resilience factors related to homelessness among young people in Western countries. METHODS: After thorough examination for inclusion criteria, 665 abstracts of peer-reviewed quantitative studies of risk or resilience factors for homelessness among young people (ages 0-25) that included an adequate comparison group (e.g., not homeless) were selected. After abstract and full-text screening, 16 articles were reviewed. A primary prevention framework was used to create an explanatory model for the onset of homelessness using risk and resilience factors. RESULTS: Common risk factors for youth homelessness included difficulties with family, mental health or substance use problems, a history of problem behaviors, a history of foster care, homelessness as a child, and running away. Common protective factors included a supportive family, a college education, and high socioeconomic status. Findings were integrated into a provisional developmental model of youth homelessness risk. Clinical implications of the model for service development are discussed, and a model for monitoring homelessness risk and resilience factors is proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Factors affecting homelessness risk among youths and adults differ, with family, foster care, and schooling playing a much more important role among youths. Findings highlight opportunities for youth homelessness prevention strategies and monitoring.
OBJECTIVES: The experience of homelessness for young people can affect social, emotional, and physical development, resulting in poorer physical and mental health outcomes. To reduce rates of youth homelessness, a better understanding of both risk and resilience is needed to inform future intervention development. This article presents a systematic review of published research reporting risk or resilience factors related to homelessness among young people in Western countries. METHODS: After thorough examination for inclusion criteria, 665 abstracts of peer-reviewed quantitative studies of risk or resilience factors for homelessness among young people (ages 0-25) that included an adequate comparison group (e.g., not homeless) were selected. After abstract and full-text screening, 16 articles were reviewed. A primary prevention framework was used to create an explanatory model for the onset of homelessness using risk and resilience factors. RESULTS: Common risk factors for youth homelessness included difficulties with family, mental health or substance use problems, a history of problem behaviors, a history of foster care, homelessness as a child, and running away. Common protective factors included a supportive family, a college education, and high socioeconomic status. Findings were integrated into a provisional developmental model of youth homelessness risk. Clinical implications of the model for service development are discussed, and a model for monitoring homelessness risk and resilience factors is proposed. CONCLUSIONS: Factors affecting homelessness risk among youths and adults differ, with family, foster care, and schooling playing a much more important role among youths. Findings highlight opportunities for youth homelessness prevention strategies and monitoring.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adolescents and young adults; Homelessness; Mental health systems/hospitals
Authors: Melissa Ford Shah; Qinghua Liu; J Mark Eddy; Susan Barkan; David Marshall; David Mancuso; Barbara Lucenko; Alice Huber Journal: Am J Community Psychol Date: 2016-11-10
Authors: Matthew H Morton; Amy Dworsky; Jennifer L Matjasko; Susanna R Curry; David Schlueter; Raúl Chávez; Anne F Farrell Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2017-11-15 Impact factor: 5.012