Role of Social Environmental Protective Factors on Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among Midwestern Homeless Youth

Abstract

We employ a social stress framework, which examines the influence of multiple stressors (e.g., physical abuse, foster care placement) on an individual's ability to function (e.g., mental well-being), to longitudinally examine the effects of stressful life events on mental health and the role of the social environment in this process among 150 homeless youth. Results revealed that numerous stressors, such as physical abuse and running away from home more frequently, were associated with greater depressive symptoms and elevated anxiety. Having mentors and family and friends from home that youth can rely on resulted in more positive social support, which subsequently lowered the risk for depressive symptoms and anxiety at wave 2.

Mental health disparities and high‐risk alcohol use among non‐heterosexual high school students

“…Research shows that positive adult‐child relationships serve as a protective factor against a variety of negative mental health outcomes including youth suicide, risky sexual behavior, perpetuating and being victimized by bullying, and anxiety and depression . Similarly, the presence of a supportive adult relationship is a protective factor against cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and substance use .…”

Child abuse, mental health and sleeping arrangements among homeless youth: Links to physical and sexual street victimization

“…Those who experience more depressive symptoms (Bender et al, 2015), more anxiety (Tyler, Schmitz, & Ray, 2017), and more physical street victimization (Tyler & Melander, 2015) are more likely to report a history of child physical abuse. Poorer mental health (Rattelade et al, 2014), and being sexually victimized on the street (Tyler & Melander, 2015) are also associated with a history of child sexual abuse.…”

“…Moreover, research finds that homeless youth are at elevated risk for experiencing re-victimization (Harris et al, 2017). Finally, experiencing more anxiety, more depressive symptoms (Tyler et al, 2017), and more street victimization (Kort-Butler, Tyler, & Melander, 2011; Tyler et al, 2017) has been associated with running away more often. This can become a problematic cycle as research indicates that victimization can lead to further depression and other negative mental health outcomes among homeless youth (Bender, Ferguson, Thompson, & Langenderfer, 2014).…”

“…In addition to adverse early life histories prior to leaving home, homeless youth also experience disproportionally high rates of victimization while on the street: between 21% and 32% of homeless youth report being sexually victimized while on the street and over 50% of homeless young people report one or more occurrences of being physically victimized (Bender et al, 2015), such as being robbed or beaten up (Tyler & Beal, 2010). Those who experience more depressive symptoms (Bender et al, 2015), more anxiety (Tyler, Schmitz, & Ray, 2017), and more physical street victimization (Tyler & Melander, 2015) are more likely to report a history of child physical abuse. Poorer mental health (Rattelade et al, 2014), and being sexually victimized on the street (Tyler & Melander, 2015) are also associated with a history of child sexual abuse.…”

Bridging Families and Schools to Prevent Youth from Running Away From Home

“…This risk is further heightened for youth who are female, had prior experiences with psychological and sexual abuse, and had previous runaway episodes (Latzman, Gibbs, Feinberg, Kluckman, & Aboul-Hosn, 2018). In addition to experiencing various forms of victimization, runaway youth often experience mental health (Tyler, Schmitz, & Ray, 2018) and substance abuse issues (Martinez, 2006;McMorris, Tyler, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2002;Simons & Whitbeck, 1991;Whitbeck, 2017). Compared to their peers, runaways are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated (Biehal & Wade, 1999).…”