Are Family Communication and School Belonging Protective Factors Against Depressive Symptoms in Homeless Youth in Toronto?
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
3 March 2014
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between family communication, school engagement, negative peer behaviours, and depressive symptoms in a sample of youths experiencing homelessness. Interviews were conducted with 123 youths experiencing homelessness. Outcome measures included youth self-reports of negative peer behaviours, family communication levels, school engagement, and depressive symptoms. After controlling for demographic variables, higher family communication (b = -0.38, t = -2.74, p = 0.007) and higher school engagement (b = -4.32, t = -2.61, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Negative peer behaviours were not associated with depressive symptoms in the sample. Family communication and school engagement may serve as protective factors against depressive symptoms in youths experiencing homelessness. Practitioners who work with youths experiencing homelessness may collaborate with the youths, schools, and families to improve school engagement and family communication when possible.
Résumé
Cette étude a examiné le rapport entre la communication familiale, l'implication scolaire, les comportements négatifs des pairs et les symptômes dépressifs dans un échantillon de jeunes sans-abri. Des interviews ont été réalisées avec 123 jeunes sans-abri. Les mesures ont inclus des auto-rapports des jeunes des comportements négatifs des pairs, de la communication familiale, de l'implication scolaire et des symptômes dépressifs. Les variables démographiques étant gardées fixes, un plus haut niveau de communication familiale (b = -0.38, t = -2.74, p = 0.007) et d'implication scolaire (b = -4.32, t = -2.61, p = 0.01) a été associé de façon significative aux niveaux plus bas de symptômes dépressifs. Les comportements négatifs des pairs n'ont pas été associés aux symptômes dépressifs dans l’échantillon. La communication familiale et l'implication scolaire peuvent servir comme facteurs de protection contre les symptômes dépressifs chez les jeunes sansabri. Les intervenants et intervenantes qui travaillent avec les jeunes sans-abri peuvent collaborer avec les jeunes, les écoles et les familles afin d'améliorer l'implication scolaire et la communication familiale autant que possible.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 32 • Number 4 • December 2013
Pages: 75 - 83
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Version of record online: 3 March 2014
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GattisMaurice N.. 2013. Are Family Communication and School Belonging Protective Factors Against Depressive Symptoms in Homeless Youth in Toronto?. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
32(4): 75-83. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2013-034
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