Stress, coping, and social support among homeless youth

Evaluated in this study was the extent to which stress, coping strategies, and social support were associated with depressive symptoms, poor physical health, and substance use in homeless youth. Data were obtained from a stratified random sample of 432 homeless youth recruited from service sites and street sites in Los Angeles, California. Stressful life events were associated positively with symptoms of depression, poor physical health, and substance use. Use of emotion-focused coping strategies increased the risk of symptoms of depression, poor health, and substance-use disorders, whereas use of problem-focused coping strategies decreased the risk of alcohol use disorder and poor health. Social support decreased the risk of symptoms of depression and poor health but was not related to the risk of substance use. Results indicate that effective coping skills and social support may counteract the negative effects of stressful life events on physical and psychological health in homeless youth.