Identifying Unmet Mental Health Needs in Children of Formerly Homeless Mothers Living in a Supportive Housing Community Sector of Care

Overview

Journal J Abnorm Child Psychol

Publisher Springer

Date 2010 Jan 6

PMID 20049523

Citations 12

Authors

Susanne S Lee

Gerald J August

Abigail H Gewirtz

Bonnie Klimes-Dougan

Michael L Bloomquist

George M Realmuto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study reports psychosocial characteristics of a sample of 111 children (K to 2nd grade) and their mothers who were living in urban supportive housings. The aim of this study was to document the various types and degree of risk endemic to this population. First, we describe the psychosocial characteristics of this homeless sample. Second, we compared this homeless sample with a grade-matched, high-risk, school-based sample of children (n = 146) who were identified as showing early symptoms of disruptive behaviors. Third, we compared the parents in both samples on mental health, parenting practices, and service utilization. Results showed that children living in supportive housing were in the at-risk range and had comparable levels of externalizing problems, internalizing problems, school problems and emotional strengths with the school-based risk sample receiving prevention services at a family support community agency. Mothers in supportive housing reported significantly higher psychological distress, less optimal parenting practices and greater service utilization. These findings are among the first to provide empirical support for the need to deliver prevention interventions in community sectors of care.

Citing Articles

The impact of community engagement as a public health intervention to support the mental well-being of single mothers and children living under housing insecure conditions - a rapid literature review.

Joseph N, Burn A, Anderson J BMC Public Health. 2023; 23(1):1866.

PMID: 37752475 PMC: 10523618. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16668-7.

Heterogeneity among Homeless Australian Women and Their Reasons for Homelessness Entry.

Warburton W, Papic M, Whittaker E Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(15).

PMID: 35897280 PMC: 9331468. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19158909.

Addressing Mental Health and Trauma-Related Needs of Sheltered Children and Families with Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Spiegel J, Graziano P, Arcia E, Cox S, Ayala M, Carnero N Adm Policy Ment Health. 2022; 49(5):881-898.

PMID: 35867261 PMC: 9393136. DOI: 10.1007/s10488-022-01207-0.

"From Analog to Digital": The Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Positive Parenting Program for Street-Connected Mothers in Kenya.

Murphy K, Embleton L, Lachman J, Owino E, Kirwa S, Makori D Child Youth Serv Rev. 2021; 127.

PMID: 34421160 PMC: 8372834. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106077.

Bidirectional Relations Between Parenting Practices and Child Externalizing Behaviors in Formerly Homeless Families: A Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis.

Zhang J, Lee S, Piehler T, Gewirtz A, August G Parent Sci Pract. 2021; 20(3):177-199.

PMID: 33716580 PMC: 7954139. DOI: 10.1080/15295192.2019.1694833.

References

Rescorla L, Parker R, Stolley P . Ability, achievement, and adjustment in homeless children. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1991; 61(2):210-20. DOI: 10.1037/h0079236. View

Lovejoy M, Graczyk P, OHare E, Neuman G . Maternal depression and parenting behavior: a meta-analytic review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2000; 20(5):561-92. DOI: 10.1016/s0272-7358(98)00100-7. View

Teplin L, Abram K, McClelland G, Dulcan M, Mericle A . Psychiatric disorders in youth in juvenile detention. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002; 59(12):1133-43. PMC: 2861992. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.59.12.1133. View

Richters J . Depressed mothers as informants about their children: a critical review of the evidence for distortion. Psychol Bull. 1992; 112(3):485-99. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.112.3.485. View

North C, Eyrich K, Pollio D, Spitznagel E . Are rates of psychiatric disorders in the homeless population changing?. Am J Public Health. 2004; 94(1):103-8. PMC: 1449834. DOI: 10.2105/ajph.94.1.103. View

Ringel J, Sturm R . National estimates of mental health utilization and expenditures for children in 1998. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2001; 28(3):319-33. DOI: 10.1007/BF02287247. View

Yu M, North C, LaVesser P, Osborne V, Spitznagel E . A comparison study of psychiatric and behavior disorders and cognitive ability among homeless and housed children. Community Ment Health J. 2007; 44(1):1-10. PMC: 4236108. DOI: 10.1007/s10597-007-9100-0. View

Bloomquist M, August G, Horowitz J, Lee S, Jensen C . Moving from science to service: transposing and sustaining the Early Risers prevention program in a community service system. J Prim Prev. 2008; 29(4):307-21. DOI: 10.1007/s10935-008-0142-z. View

Miller L, Wasserman G, Neugebauer R, Gorman-Smith D, Kamboukos D . Witnessed community violence and antisocial behavior in high-risk, urban boys. J Clin Child Psychol. 1999; 28(1):2-11. DOI: 10.1207/s15374424jccp2801_1. View

10.

Kilgore K, Snyder J, Lentz C . The contribution of parental discipline, parental monitoring, and school risk to early-onset conduct problems in African American boys and girls. Dev Psychol. 2000; 36(6):835-45. DOI: 10.1037//0012-1649.36.6.835. View

11.

Shaffer D, Fisher P, Dulcan M, Davies M, Piacentini J, Lahey B . The NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.3 (DISC-2.3): description, acceptability, prevalence rates, and performance in the MECA Study. Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders Study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996; 35(7):865-77. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199607000-00012. View

12.

Munoz R, Mrazek P, Haggerty R . Institute of Medicine report on prevention of mental disorders. Summary and commentary. Am Psychol. 1996; 51(11):1116-22. DOI: 10.1037//0003-066x.51.11.1116. View

13.

Ackerman B, Kogos J, Youngstrom E, Schoff K, Izard C . Family instability and the problem behaviors of children from economically disadvantaged families. Dev Psychol. 1999; 35(1):258-68. DOI: 10.1037//0012-1649.35.1.258. View

14.

Pfiffner L, McBurnett K, Rathouz P . Father absence and familial antisocial characteristics. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2001; 29(5):357-67. DOI: 10.1023/a:1010421301435. View

15.

Gewirtz A, August G . Incorporating multifaceted mental health prevention services in community sectors-of-care. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2008; 11(1-2):1-11. PMC: 5325127. DOI: 10.1007/s10567-007-0029-1. View

16.

Ruehlman L, West S, Pasahow R . Depression and evaluative schemata. J Pers. 1985; 53(1):46-92. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1985.tb00888.x. View

17.

Dodge K, Pettit G, Bates J . Socialization mediators of the relation between socioeconomic status and child conduct problems. Child Dev. 1994; 65(2 Spec No):649-65. View

18.

Ashman S, Dawson G, Panagiotides H . Trajectories of maternal depression over 7 years: relations with child psychophysiology and behavior and role of contextual risks. Dev Psychopathol. 2008; 20(1):55-77. DOI: 10.1017/S0954579408000035. View

19.

Vostanis P, GRATTAN E, Cumella S, Winchester C . Psychosocial functioning of homeless children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997; 36(7):881-9. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199707000-00009. View

20.

Menke E, Wagner J . A comparative study of homeless, previously homeless, and never homeless school-aged children's health. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs. 1998; 20(3):153-73. DOI: 10.3109/01460869709028260. View