The Strengths of Young People Who Are Homeless
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
12 July 2016
Abstract
Researchers examined how young people who are homeless conceptualize and interact with challenging circumstances, adopting a human agency focus rooted in the constructionist model of resilience. Thirty-five young people who were homeless in Ottawa participated in in-depth interviews and/or focus groups. Participants reflected upon their strategic decision-making and described how they solved problems in the midst of adversity, planned for the future, consciously altered their identities, and balanced the costs of engaging in certain behaviours. A constructionist approach to resilience allowed for insight into behaviour that is often seen as risky or outside social norms.
Résumé
Les chercheurs ont examiné la façon dont les jeunes gens qui sont sans-abri conçoivent et interagissent avec des circonstances difficiles. L’approche adoptée met l’accent sur le facteur humain tout en se basant sur le modèle constructiviste de la résilience. Trente-cinq jeunes gens qui étaient sans-abri à Ottawa ont participé à des entrevues approfondies et/ou groups de discussion. Les participants ont réfléchi sur leur processus de prise de décision stratégique. Ils ont aussi décrit comment ils ont résolu des problèmes en pleine adversité, fait des plans pour l’avenir, consciemment changé leurs identités, et pondéré certains comportements en évaluant leur coûts. Une approche constructiviste de la résilience a permit de comprendre un comportement qui est souvent considéré comme risqué ou en dehors des normes sociales.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 35 • Number 2 • October 2016
Pages: 43 - 54
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Version of record online: 12 July 2016
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Benjamin S. Roebuck and Maryann M. Roebuck. 2016. The Strengths of Young People Who Are Homeless. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
35(2): 43-54. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2016-032
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