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A Longitudinal Population-Based Study of Factors in Adolescence Predicting Homelessness in Young Adulthood

van den Bree, Marianne B. M., Shelton, Katherine, Bonner, Adrian B., Moss, Sebastian, Thomas, Hollie, Taylor, Pamela J. (2009) A Longitudinal Population-Based Study of Factors in Adolescence Predicting Homelessness in Young Adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45 (6). pp. 571-578. (doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.03.027) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:24708)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.03.027

Abstract

Almost everything known about risk factors for homelessness is based on cross-sectional studies of non-random samples. Furthermore, most studies have focused on a small number of risk factors and have not evaluated their relative importance. Our aim was to examine which factors, in a population-based sample of adolescents, independently predict homelessness in young adults.

Methods: Participants (n = 10,433) in the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) were initially selected through systematic random sampling of US high schools. Interviews were conducted at home in 1994–1995 when the participants were 11–18 years of age and again in 2001 when participants were 18–28 years of age. We examined the relationships between a range of risk factors reported in adolescence (mood-related problems, substance involvement, delinquency, personality, quality of family relations, neighborhood quality, school adjustment, religious affiliation, perpetration of violence, and experiences of victimization) and experiences of homelessness reported in young adulthood, using regression analysis.

Results: Each risk factor predicted homelessness. However, only family relationship quality (odds

ratio [OR] ¼ .79, 95% confidence interval [CI] ¼ .69–.90), school adjustment problems (OR ¼

1.57, 95% CI ¼ 1.35–1.82), and experiences of victimization (OR ¼ 1.27, 95% CI ¼ 1.11–1.45)

were found to independently predict homelessness.

Conclusions: Among a range of well-established risk factors, a troubled family background, school

adjustment problems and experiences of victimization were found to be the strongest predictors of

homelessness in a general population of young people. Our findings suggest possibilities for the early

identification of young persons at risk for homelessness through schools, agencies offering familybased

support, and clinical services.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.03.027
Uncontrolled keywords: Homeless; Population-based; Longitudinal; Adolescence; Young adulthood; Family; Victimization; School adjustment; Substance use; USA
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare > HV4491 Homelessness
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ550 Diseases of adolescence. Adolescent medicine
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Funders: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center (https://ror.org/01v2b1j25)
Depositing User: Tony Rees
Date Deposited: 25 Aug 2010 09:06 UTC
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2022 10:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/24708 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Bonner, Adrian B..

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