Resilience and Suicidality among Homeless Youth

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Resilience and Suicidality among Homeless Youth
Language: English
Authors: Cleverley, Kristin, Kidd, Sean A.
Source: Journal of Adolescence. Oct 2011 34(5):1049-1054.
Availability: Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 6
Publication Date: 2011
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Homeless People, Mental Disorders, Suicide, Psychology, Youth, Resilience (Psychology), At Risk Persons, Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Intervention, Self Esteem, Emotional Disturbances
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.11.003
ISSN: 0140-1971
Abstract: Homeless and street-involved youth are considered an extremely high risk group, with many studies highlighting trajectories characterized by abusive, neglectful, and unstable family histories, victimization and criminal involvement while on the streets, high rates of physical and mental illness, and extremely high rates of mortality. While there exists a substantial body of knowledge regarding risk, in recent years attention has been increasingly shifting to the examination of resilience, intervention, and service delivery models for these young people. The present study describes the findings from a quantitative examination of personal and street-related demographics, psychological distress, self-esteem, resilience, and suicidality among 47 homeless and street-involved youth. Key findings indicate that the apparent erosion of mental health variables, including resilience, occurs as a function of how long the youths have been without stable housing. Finally, those youths' perceived resilience was associated with less suicidal ideation whereas higher psychological distress was associated with higher suicidal ideation, even when accounting for resiliency. (Contains 5 tables.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2011
Accession Number: EJ937776
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Homeless and street-involved youth are considered an extremely high risk group, with many studies highlighting trajectories characterized by abusive, neglectful, and unstable family histories, victimization and criminal involvement while on the streets, high rates of physical and mental illness, and extremely high rates of mortality. While there exists a substantial body of knowledge regarding risk, in recent years attention has been increasingly shifting to the examination of resilience, intervention, and service delivery models for these young people. The present study describes the findings from a quantitative examination of personal and street-related demographics, psychological distress, self-esteem, resilience, and suicidality among 47 homeless and street-involved youth. Key findings indicate that the apparent erosion of mental health variables, including resilience, occurs as a function of how long the youths have been without stable housing. Finally, those youths' perceived resilience was associated with less suicidal ideation whereas higher psychological distress was associated with higher suicidal ideation, even when accounting for resiliency. (Contains 5 tables.)
ISSN:0140-1971
DOI:10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.11.003