Suicide, High-Risk Behaviors, and Coping Style in Homeless Adolescent Males' Adjustment

To evaluate the association among suicide behaviors, high-risk behaviors, coping style, and psychological adjustment (i.e., depressive symptomatology, internalizing and externalizing behavior problems) in homeless and non-homeless adolescent males (aged 16 to 19 years); data was obtained from 100 homeless youth accessing an emergency shelter (Ottawa, ON), as compared to a group of 70 youth accessing local community drop-in centers that lived with their parent(s)/guardian(s) and had never stayed in a shelter. The study found that relative to non-homeless youth, homeless youth were more likely to report drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, legal problems, academic difficulties, and mental health problems. Homeless youth presented with a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation, past suicide attempts, depressive symptomatology, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Disengagement coping was a predictor of suicidal ideation, past attempts, depressive symptoms and both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in homeless youth. The study concluded that as compared to non-homeless youth, homeless youth reported greater use of a disengaging coping style and are at greater risk for high-risk behaviors, past suicide attempts, and clinically elevated levels of depressive symptoms and behavior problems.

Publication Date: 
2004
Pages: 
237-243
Volume: 
34
Issue: 
3
Journal Name: 
Journal of Adolescent Health