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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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Articles 1 - 12 of 12
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Child Abuse, Mental Health And Sleeping Arrangements Among Homeless Youth: Links To Physical And Sexual Street Victimization, Kimberly A. Tyler, Rachel Schmitz
Child Abuse, Mental Health And Sleeping Arrangements Among Homeless Youth: Links To Physical And Sexual Street Victimization, Kimberly A. Tyler, Rachel Schmitz
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
Physical safety is a primary concern among homeless youth because they struggle to secure basic necessities and a permanent place to live. Despite this, studies have not fully examined the numerous linkages that might explain risk for victimization within the context of material insecurity. In this study, we examine multiple levels of both proximal and distal risk factors at the individual (e.g. mental health), family (e.g. child abuse), and environmental levels (e.g. finding necessities) and their associations with physical and sexual street victimization among 150 Midwestern homeless youth. Results from path analyses show that child physical abuse is positively associated …
The Relationship Between Survival Sex And Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms In A High Risk Female Population, Jerreed Ivanich, Melissa L. Welch-Lazoritz, Kirk Dombrowski
The Relationship Between Survival Sex And Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms In A High Risk Female Population, Jerreed Ivanich, Melissa L. Welch-Lazoritz, Kirk Dombrowski
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
Engaging in survival sex and mental illness are overrepresented within homeless populations. This article assesses the relationship between symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and engaging in survival sex among homeless women. One hundred and fifty-eight homeless women completed surveys on self-reported BPD symptomology and sexual history. Bivariate and multivariate analyses conducted in this study provided insights into the association of experiencing BPD symptoms and engaging in survival sex. Results indicate that some symptoms of BPD are robustly correlated with engaging in survival sex among homeless adult women. Implications for service agencies and others working with at-risk female populations are …
An Inside Look At Homeless Youths’ Social Networks: Perceptions Of Substance Use Norms, Lisa A. Melander, Kimberly A. Tyler, Rachel M. Schmitz
An Inside Look At Homeless Youths’ Social Networks: Perceptions Of Substance Use Norms, Lisa A. Melander, Kimberly A. Tyler, Rachel M. Schmitz
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
Substance use among homeless young people is a pervasive problem, and there have been many efforts to understand more about the dynamics of this health-compromising behavior. The current study examined perceived substance use norms within homeless youths’ social networks utilizing in-depth interviews. The sample included 19 homeless individuals ages 16 to 21. Four elements of substance use within networks emerged: substance use choices, drug use safety issues, encouragement and/or discouragement, and appropriate situations in which substance use is condoned. These findings provide unique insight into the norms associated with drug and alcohol use within homeless youths’ social networks.
Homeless Young People’S Experiences Of Caregiver Rejection, Rachel M. Schmitz, Kimberly A. Tyler
Homeless Young People’S Experiences Of Caregiver Rejection, Rachel M. Schmitz, Kimberly A. Tyler
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
This paper explores the dynamics of caregiver rejection experienced by 40 homeless young adults 19–21 years of age. Using qualitative interviews, our findings reveal that nearly all of the youth reported at least one type of familial rejection that was intertwined with wider household conflict, and several youth experienced multiple types of rejection. Many young people reported “feeling like an outsider,” as they felt marginalized by family members and perceived a sense of outsiderness within their family networks. Some youth cited rejection when they were “betrayed by a primary caregiver for a significant other.” These intimate partners, such as a …
The Effect Of Victimization, Mental Health, And Protective Factors On Crime And Illicit Drug Use Among Homeless Young Adults, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa Kort-Butler, Alexis Swendener
The Effect Of Victimization, Mental Health, And Protective Factors On Crime And Illicit Drug Use Among Homeless Young Adults, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa Kort-Butler, Alexis Swendener
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
Although research has found high rates of child maltreatment, widespread victimization, and other negative outcomes among homeless youth and young adults, resiliency among this population has largely been understudied. Specifically, a gap remains in terms of how protective factors such as self-efficacy, low deviant beliefs, and religiosity operate among homeless youth and young adults. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between various forms of victimization, mental health, and protective factors with property and violent crime and illicit drug use among homeless young adults. Results from regression analyses indicate that running away from home more frequently, …
Risk Factors For Running Away Among A General Population Sample Of Males And Females, Kimberly A. Tyler, Kellie J. Hagewen, Lisa A. Melander
Risk Factors For Running Away Among A General Population Sample Of Males And Females, Kimberly A. Tyler, Kellie J. Hagewen, Lisa A. Melander
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
The present study examines risk factors for running away and homelessness among a sample of more than 7,000 currently housed youth using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Structural equation modeling results revealed that those with greater levels of family instability and those who ran away at Wave 2 were significantly more likely to run away and/or become homeless 5 years later at Wave 3. Family instability also had a significant indirect effect on running away and/or being homeless at Wave 3 through greater levels of problem behaviors and running away at Wave 2. Running away at …
The Effect Of Early Maltreatment, Victimization, And Partner Violence On Hiv Risk Behavior Among Homeless Young Adults, Lisa A. Melander, Kimberly A. Tyler
The Effect Of Early Maltreatment, Victimization, And Partner Violence On Hiv Risk Behavior Among Homeless Young Adults, Lisa A. Melander, Kimberly A. Tyler
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
Purpose: The purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between child maltreatment, physical and sexual victimization, and partner violence victimization with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among a sample of homeless young adults from the midwestern United States.
Methods: Data are from the Homeless Young Adult Project. A total of 199 young adults aged 19–26 years were interviewed over 14 months using a systematic sampling strategy. The final sample included 172 young adults who were homeless or had a history of running away and being homeless.
Results: Results from the path analysis revealed that sexual abuse is …
Service Utilization Patterns Of Homeless Youth, Sarah L. Akinyemi
Service Utilization Patterns Of Homeless Youth, Sarah L. Akinyemi
Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Few studies exist on the types of characteristics associated with service utilization (e.g., shelters, food programs) among homeless youth in the U.S. Services are important, however, because without food and shelter, numerous homeless youth resort to trading sex in order to meet their daily survival needs. Access to physical and mental health services gives homeless youth more of an opportunity to integrate into mainstream society than they would otherwise have. To address this gap in our understanding, my study examines what traits (e.g. age, race, abuse history) correlate with the use of shelters, food programs, street outreach, counseling, STD/STI testing, …
A Comparison Of Homeless And High-Risk Young Adults: Are They One And The Same?, Kimberly A. Tyler, Katherine A. Johnson, Lisa A. Melander
A Comparison Of Homeless And High-Risk Young Adults: Are They One And The Same?, Kimberly A. Tyler, Katherine A. Johnson, Lisa A. Melander
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
Although experiencing poor parenting has been linked to high-risk behaviors and negative outcomes among different populations, very little research has been conducted on whether inadequate parenting has the same detrimental consequences for homeless and high-risk young adults. As such, this article compares homeless and marginally housed young adults to see if the associations between poor parenting (e.g. lower monitoring, neglect and physical abuse) and negative outcomes including depressive symptoms, victimization, delinquency, and substance use are similar for these two groups. The sample consisted of 199 homeless and high-risk young adults from the Midwestern United States. Multivariate results revealed that childhood …
Self Injurious Behavior Among Homeless Young Adults: A Social Stress Analysis, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa A. Melander, Elbert P. Almazan
Self Injurious Behavior Among Homeless Young Adults: A Social Stress Analysis, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa A. Melander, Elbert P. Almazan
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
Although self-mutilation has been studied from medical and individual perspectives, it has rarely been examined within a social stress context. As such, we use a social stress framework to examine risk factors for self-mutilation to determine whether status strains that are often associated with poorer health outcomes in the general population are also associated with self-mutilation among a sample of young adults in the United States who have a history of homelessness. Data are drawn from the Homeless Young Adult Project which involved interviews with 199 young adults in 3 Midwestern United States cities. The results of our path analyses …
Discrepancies In Reporting Of Physical And Sexual Abuse Among Homeless Young Adults, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa A. Melander
Discrepancies In Reporting Of Physical And Sexual Abuse Among Homeless Young Adults, Kimberly A. Tyler, Lisa A. Melander
Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications
This study investigated risk factors for discrepant reporting of physical and sexual abuse among 172 homeless young adults. Discrepant reporting includes situations in which a respondent denies experiencing abuse in general but reports being a victim of specific forms of maltreatment. The results revealed that discrepant reporting rates tended to be highest for minor physical assault and for noncontact sexual abuse. Multivariate results revealed that demographic characteristics were important correlates of both discrepant physical and sexual abuse reporters. Family background characteristics also played a role in discrepant reporting for physical abuse. Overall, some young people with abuse histories are not …
Human Services Data Standards: Current Progress And Future Vision In Crisis Response, Nancy C. Shank, Brian Sokol, Michelle L. Hayes, Christina Vetrano
Human Services Data Standards: Current Progress And Future Vision In Crisis Response, Nancy C. Shank, Brian Sokol, Michelle L. Hayes, Christina Vetrano
University of Nebraska Public Policy Center: Publications
Interorganizational coordination is crucial among human services providers responsible for responding to both personal and widespread crises. Too often, however, agencies providing disaster relief, shelter, and connection to other social service systems operate in information silos. Moreover, organizations that assist the same people may be duplicating services or ineffectively providing services to those in need. In the past, there has been no easy way for human service organizations to share information about clients, resources, and services. Over the last decade, distinct initiatives have begun to standardize data collection, storage, and transmission standards within human service domains. This paper describes several …