IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i20p10713-d654827.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Perceived Social Support Attenuates the Association between Stress and Health-Related Quality of Life among Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Author

Listed:
  • Midhat Z. Jafry

    (Department of Biology and Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, University of Houston, Science & Research Building 2, 3455 Cullen Blvd Room 342, Houston, TX 77204, USA
    Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Services, College of Education, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Jayda Martinez

    (Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Services, College of Education, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Tzuan A. Chen

    (Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Services, College of Education, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
    HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, 1100 Health 2, 4849 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Michael S. Businelle

    (HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, 1100 Health 2, 4849 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
    TSET Health Promotion Research Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, University of Oklahoma, 655 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA)

  • Darla E. Kendzor

    (TSET Health Promotion Research Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, University of Oklahoma, 655 Research Parkway, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA)

  • Lorraine R. Reitzel

    (Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Services, College of Education, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204, USA
    HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, 1100 Health 2, 4849 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77204, USA)

Abstract

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is defined as a multidimensional subjective assessment of one’s physical and mental health. Homelessness is associated with numerous stressors that can reduce HRQoL. Social support is defined as the availability of individuals, or resources provided by individuals, to cope with stress. Interpersonal social support may be important in buffering HRQoL from the negative implications of stress. Here, we examine this association in a marginalized group known for high rates of physical and mental health comorbidities: adults experiencing homelessness. Participants ( N = 581; 63.7% men; M age = 43.6 ± 12.2) were recruited from homeless-serving agencies in Oklahoma City. Social support was measured with the 12-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL). HRQoL was measured by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey using self-rated health, the number of poor mental and poor physical health days over the preceding 30 days, as well as the number of limited activity days as the result of poor mental and/or physical health. Perceived stress was assessed using the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The potential moderation effect of social support was examined by assessing the interaction term of social support and stress in a series of linear regression analyses, controlling for sex, age, months homeless, race, education, health insurance status, serious mental illness diagnosis, and recruitment agency/site. There was a significant interaction effect of social support and stress on the prediction of days of poor physical health, days of poor mental health, and days of limited activity ( p in all cases ≤ 0.05). Results add to a growing literature on the potentially protective benefits of social support for HRQoL, extend them to a large sample of adults experiencing homelessness in the South, and demonstrate the significance of this moderating effect of social support over and above the influence of several prominent sociodemographic and diagnostic variables. Future work should determine if interventions designed to enhance social support can buffer HRQoL from the deleterious effects of stress among this vulnerable population.

Suggested Citation

  • Midhat Z. Jafry & Jayda Martinez & Tzuan A. Chen & Michael S. Businelle & Darla E. Kendzor & Lorraine R. Reitzel, 2021. "Perceived Social Support Attenuates the Association between Stress and Health-Related Quality of Life among Adults Experiencing Homelessness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10713-:d:654827
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10713/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10713/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Businelle, M.S. & Cuate, E.L. & Kesh, A. & Poonawalla, I.B. & Kendzor, D.E., 2013. "Comparing homeless smokers to economically disadvantaged domiciled smokers," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(S2), pages 218-221.
    2. Fargo, J.D. & Munley, E.A. & Byrne, T.H. & Montgomery, A.E. & Culhane, D.P., 2013. "Community-level characteristics associated with variation in rates of homelessness among families and single adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(S2), pages 340-347.
    3. Elizabeth Golembiewski & Dennis P. Watson & Lisa Robison & John W. Coberg II, 2017. "Social Network Decay as Potential Recovery from Homelessness: A Mixed Methods Study in Housing First Programming," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Mary-Catherine Anderson & Ashley Hazel & Jessica M. Perkins & Zack W. Almquist, 2021. "The Ecology of Unsheltered Homelessness: Environmental and Social-Network Predictors of Well-Being among an Unsheltered Homeless Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-22, July.
    5. Rhoades, Harmony & Hsu, Hsun-ta & Rice, Eric & Harris, Taylor & La Motte-Kerr, Wichada & Winetrobe, Hailey & Henwood, Benjamin & Wenzel, Suzanne, 2021. "Social network change after moving into permanent supportive housing: Who stays and who goes?," Network Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(1), pages 18-34, March.
    6. Baggett, T.P. & O'Connell, J.J. & Singer, D.E. & Rigotti, N.A., 2010. "The unmet health care needs of homeless adults: A national study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(7), pages 1326-1333.
    7. Chisom N. Iwundu & Pooja Agrawal & Michael S. Businelle & Darla E. Kendzor & Lorraine R. Reitzel, 2020. "Predictors of Overnight and Emergency Treatment among Homeless Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-9, June.
    8. Lorraine R. Reitzel & Surya Chinamuthevi & Sajeevika S. Daundasekara & Daphne C. Hernandez & Tzu-An Chen & Yashwant Harkara & Ezemenari M. Obasi & Darla E. Kendzor & Michael S. Businelle, 2020. "Association of Problematic Alcohol Use and Food Insecurity among Homeless Men and Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-10, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Iria Noa de la Fuente-Roldán & Ana Isabel Corchado-Castillo & Ana Dorado-Barbé, 2023. "Mental Health and Homelessness in the Community of Madrid (Spain): The Impact of Discrimination and Violence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jayda Martinez & Midhat Z. Jafry & Tzuan A. Chen & Michael S. Businelle & Darla E. Kendzor & Maggie Britton & Maya Vijayaraghavan & Lorraine R. Reitzel, 2022. "Guest Support for Outdoor Smoke-Free Policies within a Homeless Shelter," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. David A. Sleet & Louis Hugo Francescutti, 2021. "Homelessness and Public Health: A Focus on Strategies and Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-6, November.
    3. Chisom N. Iwundu & Pooja Agrawal & Michael S. Businelle & Darla E. Kendzor & Lorraine R. Reitzel, 2020. "Predictors of Overnight and Emergency Treatment among Homeless Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-9, June.
    4. Chisom N. Iwundu & Tzu-An Chen & Kirsteen Edereka-Great & Michael S. Businelle & Darla E. Kendzor & Lorraine R. Reitzel, 2020. "Mental Illness and Youth-Onset Homelessness: A Retrospective Study among Adults Experiencing Homelessness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-13, November.
    5. Sabine Chaupain-Guillot & Olivier Guillot, 2015. "Health system characteristics and unmet care needs in Europe: an analysis based on EU-SILC data," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 16(7), pages 781-796, September.
    6. Marilyn Stringer & Tali Averbuch & Pamela Mack Brooks & Loretta Sweet Jemmott, 2012. "Response to Homeless Childbearing Women’s Health Care Learning Needs," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 21(2), pages 195-212, May.
    7. Renato M. Liboro & Sherry Bell & Jason Flatt & Jennifer Pharr & Brandon Ranuschio & Lianne Barnes & Andrea Navarro & Alexander Ribeiro & Nadia Sheik-Yosef & John M. Waldron, 2024. "Lifetime Experiences of Housing Insecurity among Gay Men Living with HIV at Midlife: An Exploratory Study Utilizing a Social Determinants of Health Perspective," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Tasminda K. Dhaliwal & Soledad De Gregorio & Ann Owens & Gary Painter, 2021. "Putting Homelessness in Context: The Schools and Neighborhoods of Students Experiencing Homelessness," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 693(1), pages 158-176, January.
    9. Mohammed, Kamaldeen & Batung, Evans & Kansanga, Moses Mosonsieyiri & Luginaah, Isaac, 2024. "Alcohol misuse as a social determinant of food insecurity among smallholder farmers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    10. Rebekah A. Kaufman & Mahwish Mallick & Jarvis Thanex Louis & Mollie Williams & Nancy Oriol, 2024. "The Role of Street Medicine and Mobile Clinics for Persons Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-13, June.
    11. Courtney Cronley & Amanda Fackler & Jennifer M. First & Sangwon Lee & Iris Tsouris, 2024. "Persons Experiencing Homelessness during Extreme Temperatures: Lessons for Promoting Socially Inclusive Adaptive Capacity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-16, July.
    12. Heather Aydin-Ghormoz & Temilayo Adeyeye & Neil Muscatiello & Seema Nayak & Sanghamitra Savadatti & Tabassum Z. Insaf, 2022. "Identifying Risk Factors for Hospitalization with Behavioral Health Disorders and Concurrent Temperature-Related Illness in New York State," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-15, December.
    13. Matthew Taing & Bryce Kyburz & Isabel Martinez Leal & Kathy Le & Tzu-An Chen & Virmarie Correa-Fernandez & Teresa Williams & Daniel P. O’Connor & Ezemenari M. Obasi & Kathleen Casey & Litty Koshy & Lo, 2020. "Clinician Training in the Adaptation of a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Workplace Program in Agencies Serving the Homeless and Vulnerably Housed," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Luciano Magalhães Vitorino & Jorge Gelvane Tostes & Júlio César Lima Ferreira & Luiz Aurelio Gazzola de Oliveira & João Gabriel Possetti & Marcelo Teixeira Silva Jr & Mário Vicente Campos GuimarÃ, 2024. "Association between religiosity/spirituality and substance use among homeless individuals," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(2), pages 330-339, March.
    15. Jens Detollenaere & Lise Hanssens & Veerle Vyncke & Jan De Maeseneer & Sara Willems, 2017. "Do We Reap What We Sow? Exploring the Association between the Strength of European Primary Healthcare Systems and Inequity in Unmet Need," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, January.
    16. Derrien, Monika M. & Bratman, Gregory N. & Cerveny, Lee K. & Levy, Chaja & Blahna, Dale J. & Frank, Paulo & Serio, Naomi, 2024. "Public nature and health for homeless populations: Professionals’ perceptions of contingent human benefits and harms," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    17. Barbara Straaten & Gerda Rodenburg & Jorien Laan & Sandra N. Boersma & Judith R. L. M. Wolf & Dike Mheen, 2018. "Changes in Social Exclusion Indicators and Psychological Distress Among Homeless People Over a 2.5-Year Period," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 291-311, January.
    18. Janice Constance & Joanne M. Lusher, 2020. "Diabetes management interventions for homeless adults: a systematic review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(9), pages 1773-1783, December.
    19. Kirst, Maritt & Friesdorf, Rebecca & Ta, Martha & Amiri, Alexandra & Hwang, Stephen W. & Stergiopoulos, Vicky & O'Campo, Patricia, 2020. "Patterns and effects of social integration on housing stability, mental health and substance use outcomes among participants in a randomized controlled Housing First trial," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    20. Brown, Molly & Klebek, Lauren & Chodzen, Gia & Scartozzi, Samantha & Cummings, Camilla & Raskind, Alejandro, 2018. "Housing status among single adults following Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program participation in Indianapolis," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 92-98.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10713-:d:654827. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.