The impact of homelessness on adolescents' sense of self: Implications for theory and public policy.
Item
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Title
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The impact of homelessness on adolescents' sense of self: Implications for theory and public policy.
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Identifier
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AAI3214736
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identifier
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3214736
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Creator
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Rodriguez, Errol Ozwald.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Peter Fraenkel
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Date
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2006
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical | Sociology, Public and Social Welfare | Psychology, Developmental
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Abstract
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This study examined the effects of homelessness on adolescents' sense of self in the areas of self development, school life, peer relations, and coping style. Fifteen adolescents between the ages of thirteen and eighteen participated in this study, completing a semi-structured interview and self-reports of behavioral problems and self-concept. Additionally, a parent of each adolescent completed a questionnaire about their child's behavioral problems to validate adolescent responses and determine agreement between the two measures. It was believed that self-concept will be affected by the experience of homelessness and that these effects will have an impact on a broad range of behavioral symptoms. The correlational analyses revealed statistically significant relationships between self-concept and behavioral problems such as lying, cheating, stealing, fighting, and appearing withdrawn, depressed, and anxious. These findings confirm the hypothesis that a specific relationship exists between homeless adolescent self-concept and behavioral problems. No significant agreement was found between the parent and adolescent reports. A comparison group matched by age and urban city dwelling was used for further analysis. It was found that adolescents in this study were significantly more compromised than their homeless and housed-poor peers in the comparison study. In addition, eight adolescent interviews were identified for qualitative investigation using the grounded theory method. Qualitative analysis found no striking differences across four groups. However, sixteen key factors were identified which represent the overall impact of homelessness on adolescents. Clinical and public policy implications of these findings are discussed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
