Factors Related to the Development of Optimism and a Stable Sense of Identity among Homeless Young Adults

URI / Handle

Homeless 18 to 24–year olds face many obstacles in making a successful transition to adulthood. While it is important to understand the risk factors and consequences that render young adults vulnerable to experiencing homelessness, it is also imperative to refrain from defining these individuals, either solely or in part, by their current circumstances. This study, in exploring homeless young adults’ intrapersonal and interpersonal resources, seeks to expand the scope of social work research and knowledge of this population by further considering them within the context of their current psychosocial stage of development. Moreover, this investigation also draws from social cognitive theory and a conceptual model for positive youth development, thus aiming to present a more symbiotic, synergistic approach to understanding homeless young adults’ personal strengths given the influence of external factors ensconced in their environments.This study represents a secondary analysis of de–identified data from a non–public dataset. Data were collected through a cross–sectional, mixed–method design with 601 homeless young adults who were receiving drop–in, shelter, or transitional living services in Austin, TX, Denver, CO, and Hollywood, CA between February 2010 and March 2011. This investigation is grounded in two hypotheses: (a) higher levels of self–esteem, self–efficacy, and social connectedness, lower incidents of traumatic experiences, and the absence of meeting the clinical criteria for PTSD and substance use disorder are predictive of greater levels of optimism among young adults experiencing homelessness; and (b) higher levels of optimism and social connectedness, lower incidents of traumatic experiences, and the absence of meeting the clinical criteria for PTSD and substance use disorder influence the development of a stable sense of identity among homeless young adults. Results of multivariate regression analyses reveal that each hypothesis was partially supported. Notwithstanding, findings from this investigation offer additional insight into how these young people perceive themselves and their ability to persevere in spite of the daily challenges associated with being homeless.
Details
Title

Factors Related to the Development of Optimism and a Stable Sense of Identity among Homeless Young Adults

Contributors

Lean, Elisabeth (Author); The Catholic University of America (Degree granting institution); Dombo, Eileen (Thesis advisor); Sabatino, Christine (Committee member); Shields, Joseph (Committee member); Ferguson, Kristin (Committee member)

Degree Information

Degree Awarded: Ph.D. Social Work. The Catholic University of America

Extent

180

Note

Social work; Homeless Young Adults, Identity, Optimism, Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem, Strengths; Social Work

URI / Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/1961/cuislandora:213541

URI / Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/1961/cuislandora:213541

Subject

Homeless Young Adults; Identity; Optimism; Self-Efficacy; Self-Esteem; Strengths

Created

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

Issued

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

Abstract

Homeless 18 to 24–year olds face many obstacles in making a successful transition to adulthood. While it is important to understand the risk factors and consequences that render young adults vulnerable to experiencing homelessness, it is also imperative to refrain from defining these individuals, either solely or in part, by their current circumstances. This study, in exploring homeless young adults’ intrapersonal and interpersonal resources, seeks to expand the scope of social work research and knowledge of this population by further considering them within the context of their current psychosocial stage of development. Moreover, this investigation also draws from social cognitive theory and a conceptual model for positive youth development, thus aiming to present a more symbiotic, synergistic approach to understanding homeless young adults’ personal strengths given the influence of external factors ensconced in their environments.This study represents a secondary analysis of de–identified data from a non–public dataset. Data were collected through a cross–sectional, mixed–method design with 601 homeless young adults who were receiving drop–in, shelter, or transitional living services in Austin, TX, Denver, CO, and Hollywood, CA between February 2010 and March 2011. This investigation is grounded in two hypotheses: (a) higher levels of self–esteem, self–efficacy, and social connectedness, lower incidents of traumatic experiences, and the absence of meeting the clinical criteria for PTSD and substance use disorder are predictive of greater levels of optimism among young adults experiencing homelessness; and (b) higher levels of optimism and social connectedness, lower incidents of traumatic experiences, and the absence of meeting the clinical criteria for PTSD and substance use disorder influence the development of a stable sense of identity among homeless young adults. Results of multivariate regression analyses reveal that each hypothesis was partially supported. Notwithstanding, findings from this investigation offer additional insight into how these young people perceive themselves and their ability to persevere in spite of the daily challenges associated with being homeless.

Type

Dissertation

Local

Lean_cua_0043A_10877.pdf

Publisher

The Catholic University of America

Publish Date

2018

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