@article{ref1,
title="Supporting female survivors of gender-based violence experiencing homelessness:  outcomes of a health promotion psychoeducation group intervention",
journal="Frontiers in psychiatry",
year="2020",
author="Bani-Fatemi, Ali and Malta, Monica and Noble, Amanda and Wang, Wei and Rajakulendran, Thanara and Kahan, Deborah and Stergiopoulos, Vicky",
volume="11",
number="",
pages="e601540-e601540",
abstract="Homelessness is an important risk factor for gender-based violence (GBV),  particularly among youth, and disproportionally affects women and girls. Survivors  of GBV experience enduring and severe physical, psychological, and sexual health  problems. Although key elements in service delivery for survivors of GBV have been  identified, little is known about outcomes of community-based programs aiming to  assist homeless and unstably housed youth experiencing GBV. This longitudinal study  aimed to quantitatively evaluate changes in mental health and well-being outcomes in  female identified youth experiencing GBV and homelessness, 12 months after enrolment  in a community-based, trauma-informed, brief group psychoeducation intervention. Standardized survey measures were administered at baseline, 6 and 12 months for 70  participants, recruited between February 2017 and April 2019, assessing quality of  life, psychological distress, traumatic symptoms, substance use, resilience,  victimization, and sense of mastery. Linear mixed models were used to examine  longitudinal changes in quality of life as well as secondary outcomes among study  participants. After 12 months, quality of life increased significantly among  participants (p = 0.009), and the 12-month victimization score was significantly  decreased relative to baseline (p = 0.05). Changes in other outcomes were not  statistically significant. <br><br>FINDINGS suggest that community-based brief group  psychoeducation interventions may be a promising approach to improving outcomes for  this disadvantaged population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1664-0640",
doi="10.3389/fpsyt.2020.601540",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.601540"
}