‘Fighting’ for survival: A systematic review of physically violent behavior perpetrated and experienced by homeless young people

Heerde, Jessica A.; Hemphill, Sheryl A.; Scholes-Balog, Kirsty E.

doi:10.1016/j.avb.2013.12.002

Cited by 63 publications

(50 citation statements)

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“…Similarly, family‐based harms (including low parental supervision, lack of parental affect, family violence, childhood physical and (or) sexual abuse, and history of residence in out‐of‐home care) have been established as covariates for homelessness and engagement in risk (including sexual) behaviors (Farrow et al, ; Heerde et al, ; Heerde et al, ; Hyde, ; Martijn & Sharpe, ; McMorris et al, ). Homelessness has also been associated with youths' exposure to violence both as victims and perpetrators (Heerde & Hemphill, ; Heerde et al, ; Heerde et al, ). Not surprisingly, our findings are consistent with other existing studies suggesting that peers' sexual behavior (e.g., participation friends in trading sex) is a predictor of homeless youths' engagement in survival sex (e.g., Chen, Tyler, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, ; Tyler & Beal, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the requirement to make transitions within cognitive, physical, and social domains, adolescence is recognized as the period of peak incidence for mental health problems (e.g., depression) and problem behaviors (e.g., violence); with these problems and behaviors among the top causes of morbidity and mortality for youth today (Gore et al, 2011). For homeless youth, these problems and behaviors are compounded by the disruption homelessness causes to healthy adolescent physical, emotional, social, and psychological development (Farrow, Deisher, Brown, Kulig, & Kipke, 1992), as well as their prior experiences of maltreatment and abuse (Bearsley-Smith et al, 2008) and revictimization while homeless (Heerde & Hemphill, 2016b;Heerde, Hemphill, & Scholes-Balog, 2014;Heerde, Scholes-Balog, & Hemphill, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

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The role of risk and protective factors in the modification of risk for sexual victimization, sexual risk behaviors, and survival sex among homeless youth: A meta‐analysis

Heerde

Hemphill

2016

Journal Invest Psychology

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Youth homelessness is a multifaceted and significant social problem. For many homeless youth, the risk for exposure to sexual exploitation is high, with the experience of sexual victimization and engaging in sexual risk behaviors and survival sex commonplace. This meta‐analysis appraised internationally published literature to investigate the role of risk and protective factors in modifying the occurrence of sexual victimization, sexual risk behaviors, and survival sex among homeless youth. A comprehensive search of psychology, sociology, medicine, health, and criminology electronic abstraction databases was conducted for the period 1990–2016. Search terms included “homeless,” “rape,” “sexual victimization,” “unsafe sex,” and “survival sex.” The perpetration of sexual offences was included in the search strategy. Eighteen studies, examining sexual victimization, sexual risk behavior, and survival sex, met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta‐analysis. All but two studies were conducted in the United States. No retrieved studies examined sexual offending; hence, this could not be included in the meta‐analysis. Findings showed that substance use, exposure to violence and crime (as victims and perpetrators), childhood abuse, sexual behavior, and peers' antisocial and sexual behavior were unique factors increasing the likelihood for each of sexual victimization, engagement in sexual risk behavior, and engagement in survival sex. Protective factors were peer and family social support. Moderator analyses showed that the influence of risk factors may differ based on study design, sample size, study country of origin, and participant age and gender. Findings suggest that risk and protective factors may be important mechanisms by which to modify the occurrence of adverse sexual behavior outcomes and better contextualize prevention and early intervention strategies for homeless youth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of risk and protective factors in the modification of risk for sexual victimization, sexual risk behaviors, and survival sex among homeless youth: A meta‐analysis

Heerde

Hemphill

2016

Journal Invest Psychology

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“…Critically, in addition, young people experiencing homelessness frequently describe being raped and sexually assaulted, coerced into unwanted sexual activity, and engaging in street prostitution and survival sex (Heerde, Hemphill, & Scholes-Balog, 2014). Rates of these experiences and behaviors are generally higher for females compared to males.…”

Section: Associations Between Homelessness Sexual Offenses Risk Behmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sexual Offenses, and Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Youth

Heerde

Hemphill

2016

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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The use of substances among youth experiencing homelessness is an important issue in the context of addressing the developing burden of morbidities arising due to illness, injury, physical and mental health concerns, and low rates of health care utilization among this population group. Youth experiencing homelessness report engaging in and being victimized by various forms of sexual behavior. Of interest in this systematic review were published studies investigating substance use in its association with perpetration of sexual offenses, engagement in sexual risk behavior, or experience of sexual victimization among homeless youth. A systematic search of 12 psychology, health, and social science electronic databases was conducted. Search terms included "homeless*," "youth," "sex crimes," "sexual victimization," "survival sex," "rape," "drugs," and "substance abuse." Twenty-three studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. No studies statistically examining substance use in its association with perpetrating sexual offenses were located. Findings showed substance use was generally associated with sexual risk behavior or sexual victimization; however, it remains unclear whether substance use precedes or follows these behaviors and experiences. It is possible substances are used by homeless youth as a means of coping with sexual risk behavior and victimization. Implications of the review findings in relation to prevention and intervention approaches aimed to decrease the incidence and severity of health concerns among homeless youth are discussed.

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“…However, previous research has shown a tendency not only for utilitarian crimes but also for violent crimes to be more common among the homeless than in the rest of the population (Baron, 2011;Cronley et al, 2015;Heerde et al, 2013;Markowitz, 2006Markowitz, , 2011, something that is more difficult to understand on the basis of a resource perspective. In a similar vein, according to some proponents of classic strain theory, the predictions of the theory are valid only for crimes that involve an economic incentive (see Farnworth and Leiber, 1989).…”

Section: Precarious Housing and Criminal Offending: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘When it rains, it pours’: Housing evictions and criminal convictions in Sweden

Alm

Bäckman

2020

European Journal of Criminology

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Precarious housing and criminal behaviour are both important elements in processes of marginalization and cumulative disadvantage. It is well known that housing eviction primarily affects the weakest groups in society. In this article we ask if housing eviction has an independent effect on subsequent criminality and if the effect varies across different types of crime (utilitarian, violent and drug crime). Using propensity score matching on administrative register data covering all housing evictions in Sweden 2009, linked with crime registers and registers containing other relevant background information, we find that eviction increases the conviction rates for all analysed crime types, utilitarian crime in particular.

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‘Fighting’ for survival: A systematic review of physically violent behavior perpetrated and experienced by homeless young people

Cited by 63 publications

References 65 publications

The role of risk and protective factors in the modification of risk for sexual victimization, sexual risk behaviors, and survival sex among homeless youth: A meta‐analysis

The role of risk and protective factors in the modification of risk for sexual victimization, sexual risk behaviors, and survival sex among homeless youth: A meta‐analysis

Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sexual Offenses, and Sexual Victimization Among Homeless Youth

‘When it rains, it pours’: Housing evictions and criminal convictions in Sweden

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