Citation

Kidd S, Shahar G. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 2008; 78(2): 163-172.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University. skidd@stjoes.ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, American Orthopsychiatric Association, Publisher Wiley Blackwell)

DOI

10.1037/0002-9432.78.2.163

PMID

18954180

Abstract

This study examined the protective role of self-esteem, social involvement, and secure attachment among homeless youths. These protective factors were examined as they ameliorate risks among 208 homeless youths surveyed in New York City and Toronto. Both mental and physical health indicators were employed in this study, including loneliness, feeling trapped, suicidal ideation, subjective health status, and substance use. Self-esteem emerged as a key protective factor, predicting levels of loneliness, feeling trapped, and suicide ideation, and buffering against the deleterious effect of fearful attachment on loneliness. Findings highlight the role of the self-concept in risk and resilience among homeless youth.

Language: en