Factors in the psychological adjustment of homeless adolescent males: The role of coping style

Objective: This cross-sectional study explored differences in and the association of self-reported coping style, negative life events, self-esteem, and perceived social support with the psychological adjustment (i.e., depressive symptoms, internalizing and externalizing behavior problems) of homeless and nonhomeless adolescent males. Method: Data were collected from 100 youths accessing an emergency shelter and two comparison groups of nonhomeless youths: 70 youths accessing local community drop-in centers and 54 high school youths who had never accessed a shelter or drop-in. Data were collected from January 2000 to January 2001 in Ottawa. Results: Homeless youths reported a higher prevalence of family dysfunction, school difficulties, suicide attempts, legal problems, and substance use than nonhomeless youths. Homeless youths differed from nonhomeless youths for each outcome measure, reporting a greater use of the disengagement coping style, higher negative life events index, less perceived parental support, and higher levels of depressive symptoms and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that disengagement coping and self-worth accounted for significant amounts of variance in depressive symptomatology, and both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in homeless youths. Conclusions: Findings reflect the merit of considering coping style as a factor in the prevalence of psychological maladjustment among homeless youths.