Mental Health of Homeless Youth: Moderation by Peer Victimization and Teacher Support

Correlates of quality of life and mental health among youth experiencing homelessness in Iran

BACKGROUND

Quality of life (QOL) and mental health among marginalized populations, including people experiencing homelessness in Iran, are understudied. We assessed the QOL and mental health status as well as their associated factors among youth experiencing homelessness in Kerman, Iran.

METHOD

We recruited 202 participants using a convenience sampling method from 11 locations, including six homeless shelters, three street outreach sites, and two drop-in service centers, from September to December 2017. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire that included QOL, mental health, demographics, drug use, and sexual behaviors questions. Scores in each domain were indexed with a weight of 0-100. The higher score indicated a higher QOL and mental health status. Bivariable and multivariable linear regression models were performed to examine correlates of QOL and mental health.

RESULT

The mean (SD) score of QOL and mental health were 73.1 (25.8) and 65.1 (22.3), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that youth experiencing homelessness who were aged 25-29 years old (β = -5.4; 95% CI: -10.51; -0.30), and lived on the streets (β = -12.1; 95% CI: -18.19; -6.07) had a lower mental health score. Moreover, those who had higher education (β = 5.4; 95% CI: 0.58; 10.38), had no history of carrying weapons (β = 12.8; 95% CI: 6.86; 18.76), and had a higher QOL score (β = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.31; 0.50) had a higher mental health score.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights that QOL and mental health among youth experiencing homelessness in Iran are concerning, particularly among those who were older, were less educated, were living on the street, and had a history of carrying a weapon. Community-based programs, including mental health care and affordable housing are needed to improve QOL and mental health among this population in Iran.

An examination of housing interventions among youth experiencing homelessness: an investigation into racial/ethnic and sexual minority status

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to explore main and interaction effects of minority and multiple minority statuses on exits from homelessness and the stability of homelessness exits overtime.

METHODS

This study utilized the Homeless Management Information System administrative data of 10 922 youth experiencing homelessness collected from a convenience sample of 16 geographically diverse communities across the USA between 2015-17. Using multinomial logistic regression analyses and logistic regression, main effects and interaction effects of racial/ethnic minority identity and sexual/gender minority identity were examined on various homelessness exits (n = 9957) and housing sustainability (n = 5836).

RESULTS

Black youth, relative to White youth, were disproportionately exiting homelessness through incarceration (P < 0.001). Black and Latinx youth were less likely to successfully self-resolve their homelessness (both P < 0.05). Black heterosexual and Black and Latinx non-heterosexual youth were most frequently lost to the homeless system (all P < 0.01). Black youth, relative to White youth, were approximately half as likely to remain stably housed after returning to family (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

With respect to housing exits and exit stability, Black and Latinx heterosexual youth are consistently at a disadvantage. Homelessness/housing systems and programs need to conduct a deeper investigation into how they implement and develop equitable outreach and engagement practices.

Adolescent homelessness: Evaluating victimization risk based on LGBT identity and sleeping location

BACKGROUND

Teen homelessness confers risk for victimization experiences, and teens that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are at an even greater risk of experiencing victimization and homelessness.

METHODS

Using the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, we evaluated the association of experiencing homelessness with physical and sexual victimization and we examined whether LGBT identification moderated this relationship. We also evaluated if the odds of experiencing sexual and physical victimization differed depending on the reported sleeping location.

RESULTS

Students who reported homelessness had increased odds of having experienced physical and sexual victimization. LGBT identity was related to increased risk for physical and sexual victimization; however, LGBT identity did not moderate the relationship between homelessness and victimization. Considering nighttime sleeping arrangement, students who reported having no usual place to stay had the highest odds of experiencing sexual or physical victimization, followed by car, park, campground, hotels/motels, emergency housing, and doubled-up with family or friends. Notably, all homeless sleeping locations were associated with increased odds of experiencing victimization relative to sleeping at a parent or guardian's home.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm links between teen homelessness and sexual and physical victimization, as well as increased risk for victimization experienced by LGBT youth. Special considerations should be made when developing and implementing interventions for teens experiencing homelessness and teens who identify as LGBT.

Predictors of Secondary Completion Among Homeless Youth in Three U.S. Cities and the Potential Application of National Policies

PURPOSE

Secondary education completion rates (i.e., high school diploma or General Education Development [GED]) among homeless youth (HY) are low in comparison with their housed peers.

METHOD

Secondary data with a sample of 429 HY was used from a 3-city study using quantitative retrospective interviews with a purposive sample of601 HY collected from 2010 to 2011 in social service organizations across three U.S. cities (Denver, CO, n = 201; Los Angeles, CA, n = 200; and Austin, TX,, n = 200). This study examines risk and resilience factors (i.e., demographics, childhood trauma, transience, mental health diagnosis, incarceration history, employment, and resilience) associated with the completion of secondary education among HY using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Secondary completion was positively associated with identifying as female, formal employment, a sense of equanimity, and experiences of childhood emotional abuse. In contrast, secondary completion was negatively associated with a history of incarceration as well as experiences of childhood physical neglect and emotional neglect.

DISCUSSION

Recommendations are made for strengthening educational institutions' capacity to provide the comprehensive support services for HY to minimize risk factors and enhance protective factors. Similarly, the authors highlight how cross-sector collaboration, such as those approaches supported through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act, can be leveraged to minimize significant risk factors and promote resilience factors associated with secondary completion.

The Second National Canadian Homeless Youth Survey: Mental Health and Addiction Findings: La Deuxième Enquête Nationale Auprès des Jeunes Sans Abri : Résultats en Matière De Santé Mentale et de Toxicomanie

OBJECTIVE

Youth experiencing homelessness represent a major social problem in Canada and, as demonstrated in the first national survey of this population conducted in 2015, are experiencing significant mental health challenges. The present study examines the findings of a second national survey completed in 2019. These findings afford the opportunity to examine the reliability of the findings of the first study with another large, representative sample and to attempt to articulate the unique characteristics of youth experiencing the greatest distress among this at-risk population.

METHODS

This study analyzed the mental-health-related data from the 2019 Without a Home-National Youth Homelessness Survey that was administered through convenience sampling at 98 agencies serving homeless youth in 49 communities across Canada. The survey was cross-sectional and self-administered, assessing a range of demographic information, pre- and post-homelessness variables, and mental health indicators. Multinomial logistic regression and linear regression were implemented to evaluate associations with distress level.

RESULTS

Survey data were obtained from 1,375 youth accessing Canadian homeless services in 9 provinces. Thirty-five percent reported at least 1 suicide attempt, and 33.1% reported a drug overdose requiring hospitalization. The findings of this survey replicated most of the key findings from the 2015 survey. The current findings emphasized, for this high-risk population, the heightened adversity faced by young women, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S), and Indigenous subpopulations, as well as the centrality of violence exposure in determining risk and distress. Sexual violence, in particular, emerged as a key factor in the identification of youth experiencing the greatest distress with risk buffered by contact with family.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings can inform prevention and intervention policies and services and reinforce the importance of attending to violence exposure and trauma as central to the mental health trajectories of youth who have experienced homelessness.

Evaluation of a financial skills training programme for vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness

Introduction

A financial skills training programme (Cash Pointers) for young people at risk of homelessness had an unexpectedly positive impact on their wellbeing. A qualitative inquiry examined this phenomenon.

Method

Interviews with six trainees explored their experiences of the programme. A focus group comprising four programme workers added a service provider perspective.

Findings

Cash Pointers addressed trainees’ basic living and health needs. Additionally, trusting relationships with programme workers enabled trainees to feel safe, develop skills, pursue goals, manage health problems, improve relationships and engage in life roles. Trainees said Cash Pointers was accessible and responsive, offering advocacy, inter-agency liaison and hope. Programme workers said they balanced the need for quick results with patient relationship-building, were a well-supported team with a high degree of casework autonomy and felt skilled in the therapeutic use of self.

Conclusion

Cash Pointers created a psychologically informed environment within which trainees stabilised, acquired skills and progressed towards greater life satisfaction and inclusion. Improving financial skills can be profoundly transformative and an acceptable intervention for this population. Aspects of occupational therapy’s knowledge-base (dynamic systems thinking) and skillset (person-centred goal-setting, therapeutic use of self, creating enabling environments) can support this.