Citation

Schweitzer RD, Hier SJ. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Psychiatry 1993; 27(2): 275-280.

Affiliation

Queensland University of Technology, Red Hill.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8363537

Abstract

The prevalence of psychological maladjustment in homeless adolescents (n = 54) was compared to a control group (n = 58) in Brisbane, Australia using the Youth Self-Report Scale. Overall, 74% of the homeless group and 22.4% of the control group scored within the clinical range on one or more of the clinical subscales. There was considerable diversity of symptomatology in the homeless group. Less than half of the homeless group were within the clinical range on both the delinquent subscale and the thought disorder subscale. Depressive, Aggressive and Somatic Complaints were also prevalent. The study challenges preconceived notions of a simple relationship between adolescent homelessness and delinquency, and draws attention to the psychological needs of this group of adolescents.

Language: en