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Adverse childhood experiences: Are they risk factors for adult homelessness?

Author

Listed:
  • Herman, D.B.
  • Susser, E.S.
  • Struening, E.L.
  • Link, B.L.

Abstract

Objectives. We tested the hypothesis that adverse childhood experiences are risk factors for adult homelessness. Methods. We interviewed a nationally representative sample of 92 US household members who had previously been homeless and a comparison group of 395 individuals with no prior homelessness. We assessed childhood adversity with a structured protocol that included a previously validated scale indicating lack of care from parents and single-item measures of physical and sexual abuse. Results. Lack of care from a parent during childhood sharply increased the likelihood of subsequent homelessness (odds ratio [OR] = 13), as did physical abuse (OR = 16). Sexual abuse during childhood was associated with a nonsignificant trend toward homelessness (OR = 1.7). The risk of subsequent homelessness among individuals who experienced both lack of care and either type of abuse was dramatically increased compared with subjects reporting neither of these adversities (OR = 26). Conclusions. Adverse childhood experiences are powerful risk factors for adult homelessness. Effectively reducing child abuse and neglect may ultimately help prevent critical social problems including homelessness.

Suggested Citation

  • Herman, D.B. & Susser, E.S. & Struening, E.L. & Link, B.L., 1997. "Adverse childhood experiences: Are they risk factors for adult homelessness?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(2), pages 249-255.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1997:87:2:249-255_7
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    Cited by:

    1. Rosanna Scutella & Guy Johnson, 2012. "Locating and Designing 'Journeys Home': A Literature Review (Journeys Home: A Longitudinal Study of Factors Affecting Housing Stability)," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2012n11, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    2. Mikaela D. Gabriel & Sabina Mirza & Suzanne L. Stewart, 2022. "Exploring Mental Health and Holistic Healing through the Life Stories of Indigenous Youth Who Have Experienced Homelessness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-23, October.
    3. Flouri, Eirini & Buchanan, Ann, 2004. "Childhood families of homeless and poor adults in Britain: A prospective study," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Mzwandile Mabhala & Winifred Adaobi Esealuka & Amanda Nkolika Nwufo & Chinwe Enyinna & Chelsea Nonkosi Mabhala & Treasure Udechukwu & John Reid & Asmait Yohannes, 2021. "Homelessness Is Socially Created: Cluster Analysis of Social Determinants of Homelessness (SODH) in North West England in 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Melkman, Eran P. & Benbenishty, Rami, 2018. "Social support networks of care leavers: Mediating between childhood adversity and adult functioning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 176-187.
    6. Chang, Qingsong & Peng, Chenhong & Guo, Yingqi & Cai, Ziyi & Yip, Paul S.F., 2020. "Mechanisms connecting objective and subjective poverty to mental health: Serial mediation roles of negative life events and social support," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    7. Gundersen, Craig & Weinreb, Linda & Wehler, Cheryl & Hosmer, David, 2003. "Homelessness and food insecurity," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 250-272, September.
    8. Martijn, Claudine & Sharpe, Louise, 2006. "Pathways to youth homelessness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 1-12, January.
    9. Anne Laporte & Stéphanie Vandentorren & Marc-Antoine Détrez & Caroline Douay & Yann Le Strat & Erwan Le Méner & Pierre Chauvin & The Samenta Research Group, 2018. "Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Addictions among Homeless People in the Greater Paris Area, France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, January.
    10. Curry, Susanna R., 2017. "Childhood experiences and housing insecurity in adulthood: The salience of childhood emotional abuse," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 301-309.
    11. Timothy M. Diette & David C. Ribar, 2018. "A Longitudinal Analysis Of Violence And Housing Insecurity," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 56(3), pages 1602-1621, July.
    12. David Gómez-Quintero, Juan & García Martínez, Jesús & Maldonado, Lina, 2020. "Socioeconomic vulnerability and housing insecurity: A critical factor in child care in Spain," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    13. Lars Benjaminsen, 2016. "Homelessness in a Scandinavian welfare state: The risk of shelter use in the Danish adult population," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(10), pages 2041-2063, August.
    14. Shiyou Wu & Lac Ta & Jaime Vieira & Kendall Schwartz & Joshua Perez & Justin Zeien & Danyi Li & Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, 2024. "Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression among Homeless Young Adults: A Social Determinants of Health Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Zhao, Chunkai & Li, Xing, 2022. "Living under the shadow: Adverse childhood experiences and entrepreneurial behaviors in Chinese adults," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 239-255.
    16. Cohen-Cline, Hannah & Jones, Kyle & Vartanian, Keri, 2021. "Direct and indirect pathways between childhood instability and adult homelessness in a low-income population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

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