TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - General strain predictors of arrest history among homeless youths from four United States cities
JO  - Journal of juvenile justice
A1  - Ferguson, Kristin M.
A1  - Bender, Kimberly
A1  - Thompson, Sanna J.
A1  - Xie, Bin
A1  - Pollo, David
SP  - 1
EP  - 19
VL  - 1
IS  - 2
N2  - This study identifies mental health and situational predictors of arrest history among homeless youth in four U.S. cities. Using convenience sampling, we recruited 188 homeless youths from shelters, drop-in centers, and street outreach using similar methods. The youths, aged 18-24, came from Los Angeles, California (n = 50), Denver, Colorado (n = 50), New Orleans, Louisiana (n = 50), and St. Louis, Missouri (n = 38). General strain theory provided a framework for identifying factors related to arrest history, including length of time homeless, level of transience, victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance dependence, and the use of survival strategies. We tested the general strain model using observed-variable path analysis. Collectively, youths' length of time homeless, drug dependence, and use of survival strategies explained 17% of the variance in arrest history. We found a significant overall mediation effect from transience to arrest history through greater victimization, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug dependence, and survival strategies. This study offers one of the first applications of general strain theory to identify both mental health and situational strains--and responses to strains--among homeless youth. <br><br>FINDINGS have important implications for research and preventive interventions to address delinquency among this population.   Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to: Kristin M. Ferguson, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035; E-mail: kferg@hunter.cuny.edu   Keywords: Juvenile justice, Homeless youth, crime, arrest, path model, general strain theory<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2153-8026
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -