Citation

Milburn NG, Stein JA, Lopez SA, Hilberg AM, Veprinsky A, Arnold EM, Desmond KA, Branson K, Lee A, Bath E, Amani B, Comulada WS. J. Child Adolesc. Trauma 2019; 12(1): 37-47.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s40653-017-0157-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Family factors, such as poor family functioning and trauma, have been associated with negative outcomes for homeless adolescents. Further study is needed to better understand how family factors and trauma jointly relate to mental health problems and externalizing behaviors among homeless adolescents. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the influence of trauma (encompassing traumatic events experienced prior to, and after, becoming homeless) and family factors (poor family functioning and family conflict) on mental health problems and externalizing behaviors (substance use, delinquent behaviors, and sexual risk) among 201 homeless adolescents, ages 12 to 17 years. Trauma, poor family functioning, and family conflict significantly predicted greater mental health problems, delinquent behaviors, high-risk sexual behaviors and substance use. Overall, the findings suggest that family factors appear to be key to understanding mental health problems and externalizing behaviors among homeless adolescents. Implications, limitations and future directions are addressed.

Language: en

Keywords

Externalizing behaviors; Family; Family conflict; Homeless adolescents; Mental health; Mental health problems; Trauma; Youth high-risk behaviors