Although social integration tends to have positive effects on the mental health of housed adolescents, the role of homeless adolescents’ social networks is more ambiguous. Social network data were collected from 136 homeless adolescents in Hollywood, California to examine how network ties are associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Face-to-face relationships with street-based peers were a risk factor for both anxiety and depression, while contacting home-based friends through social networking technology was found to be protective for depression. Community-based and public agencies serving homeless adolescents should consider facilitating the maintenance of these protective relationships by providing internet access.
A growing body of evidence suggests that social and vocational interventions effectively enhance social and vocational functioning for individuals with schizophrenia. In this review, we first consider recent advances in vocational and social rehabilitation, then examine current findings on neurocognition, social cognition, and motivation with regard to the impact these elements have on rehabilitation interventions and outcomes. A critical evaluation of recent studies examining standalone treatment approaches and hybrid approaches that integrate components such as cognitive remediation and skills training reveals several ongoing challenges within the field. Greater understanding of the differential impact of various approaches, methods that may increase the magnitude of treatment effects, and the generalization of treatment effects to community functioning are among crucial areas for future research. Overall, these treatments hold promise in improving psychosocial functioning and helping individuals with schizophrenia acquire important life skills.
Consistent condom use is the main strategy aimed at preventing individuals from acquiring HIV through sexual intercourse. The mechanism of consistent condom use among a high-risk homeless subpopulation-homeless men who have sex with women and also engage in multiple sexual partnerships-remains unclear. This study identified 182 homeless men who engaged in multiple sexual partnerships from a representative sample of homeless men, who self-identified as heterosexual, using meal line services in Downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row area. Information such as participants' condom use psychosocial correlates, sexual risk behaviors, and social network characteristics were collected. Results suggested that condom efficacy is a potential intervening mechanism through which condom attitudes (β = -0.199; p = 0.005) and depression (β = -0.156; p = 0.029) are associated with an individual's consistent condom use. Having more network members with whom participants talked about HIV prevention (β = 0.051; p = 0.006) was also found to be associated with an individual's consistent condom use. HIV prevention programs should focus on increasing their condom efficacy to help reduce HIV risks among this vulnerable homeless subpopulation.
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