Predictors of residential stability among homeless young adults: a cohort study

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Élise Roy¹  Djamal Berbiche²  Marie Robert³  Émélie Laverdière⁴  Jean-François Boivin⁵  Louise Fournier⁶ 

[1] Addiction Research and Study Program, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 150, Place Charles-Le Moyne, room 200, J4K 0A8, Longueuil, QC, Canada;Charles-LeMoyne Hospital Research Centre, 150, Place Charles-Le Moyne, room 200, C.P. 11, J4K 0A8, Longueuil, QC, Canada;Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, 283, boul. Alexandre-Taché, bureau 3712, C.P. 1250, Succursale Hull, J8X 3X7, Gatineau, QC, Canada;Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 150, Place Charles-Le Moyne, room 200, J4K 0A8, Longueuil, QC, Canada;Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 3755, Côte Ste-Catherine, H3T 1E2, Montréal, QC, Canada;École de Santé Publique, Université Montréal, 7101 Avenue du Parc, 3ième étage, H3N 1X9, Montréal, QC, Canada;

关键词: Homelessness;    Youth;    Residential stability;    Housing;    Cohort;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-2802-x

 received in 2015-06-30, accepted in 2016-02-01,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHomelessness episodes have been shown to be associated with serious health outcomes among youth. This study was undertaken to estimate the probability of reaching residential stability over time and to identify predictors of residential stability among homeless young adults aged 18 to 25 years.MethodsA prospective cohort study was carried out in Montréal, Canada, between April 5th 2006 and January 21th 2009. Interviews conducted every three months included questions on life conditions and social and mental health factors that are known to influence residential trajectories. Residential status was determined, starting on the first day after recruitment; each follow-up day was classified as a homeless day or a housed day. A period of 90 days was used to define residential stability; therefore the main study outcome was the occurrence of the first consecutive 90 housed days during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were conducted.ResultsOf the 359 participants, 284 reached 90 days of residential stability over the study period, representing an annual probability of 80.5 %. In multivariate analysis, youth who had a high school degree, had a formal sector activity, and those who had sought psychological help were more likely to reach residential stability. Being a man, injecting substances, and having an informal sector activity were associated with a decreased probability to reach residential stability.ConclusionExposure to factors related to opportunities that promote social integration increases the chance of reaching residential stability. On the other hand, factors related to high level of street entrenchment seem to interfere with stabilization. Maximum efforts should be made to prevent chronic homelessness among youth, targeting not only individual impairments but also hinging on services adapted to foster social connections among the youth.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Roy et al. 2016