Examining the Impact of Parental Risk on Family Functioning Among Homeless and Housed Families - FREE Access
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FREE Access to Full Text: This article was featured in the "Special Section on Parenting and Homelessness", guest edited by the Homelessness Resource Center and published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Research showed that when compared to families that are housed, homeless families fare worse on measures of financial stability, housing conditions, and interactions with children when parents have a history of mental illness or substance use.
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The present study used data from 132 families that were homeless and a comparison group of 434 housed families in order to compare family functioning across the two groups. Family functioning was assessed by family support workers when the families sought help from one of seven family service agencies in Washington, DC. Multiple regression models showed that there were few differences between homeless and housed families; a difference that did emerge showed that homeless families fared better than housed families in terms of children’s developmental stimulation. However, when considering the compounding effects of additional family risk factors, adverse effects of homelessness were observed. As compared with housed families, homeless families with a history of parental mental illness had limited access to support networks and poorer interactions with their children. Poor financial and living conditions were observed among homeless families with histories of substance use. Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed. (Authors)
The Homelessness Resource Center is providing open access to the "Special Section on Parenting and Homelessness" published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Please take the time to read each of the articles within this special section (see "Related Items" to the right). You can earn 10 Continuing Education Credits by reading these articles and completing an examination. In addition to the article please find the Continuing Education Credits form attached.
Type of Resource:
Journal
Publication Date:
2009
Volume:
79
Issue:
3
Pages:
326-335
Location:
Washington, DC
Phone:
800-374-2721