Homeless youth face increased social isolation and fewer support resources, according to a study published in Social Sciences by Georgia State University sociologists. The survey of homeless youth in Atlanta revealed that having more supportive network ties reduces the risk of youth experiencing significant symptoms of a severe mental illness, while longer length of homelessness is tied to having fewer personal support network resources.
The actual number of runaway and homeless youth (RHY) has been difficult to accurately assess, but they may total well over 1 million youth.
“Given the myriad of difficult stressors these youth face on the streets, it is not surprising that researchers and service providers have documented a wide-range of physical and mental health problems associated with homelessness,” says coauthor Brandon Attell, from the Georgia Health Policy Center at Georgia State University.
Georgia State University researchers assessed the relationship between personal support network resources and the mental health status among 693 RHY (N = 693) surveyed in metro-Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the 2015 Atlanta Youth Count and Needs Assessment. The anonymous survey reached RHY aged 14 to 25 years on the streets and in some shelters and service locations. Participants did not have a permanent stable residence of their own and were living independently, without consistent parental or family support.
The researchers found that just over one-third of those surveyed reported being homeless for two months or less, while nearly 40 percent reported being homeless for six months or longer. Other findings include:
- More than one in four of those surveyed had probable severe mental illness.
- The likelihood of symptoms of severe mental illness declined among youth reporting having more supportive personal network connections.
- Sixty percent of youth had social support from adults and family members, while 65% had support from friends, and 40% from professionals.
- Youth who reported being homeless continuously for six months to a year reported significantly fewer supports.
“Runaway and homeless youth represent an exceptionally vulnerable, and largely invisible,
population in communities across the nation,” says lead author Eric R. Wright, from the Department of Sociology at Georgia State University. “One of the costs of homelessness is increased social isolation and fewer support resources. These youth face real struggles in cultivating and maintaining the positive support networks that are critical for their mental and physical health and well-being.”
Other study coauthors include Erin Ruel, also from the Department of Sociology at Georgia State University.
To learn more about the 2015 Atlanta Youth Count and Needs Assessment click here.
For more information contact Eric R Wright.