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The Role of Parental and Peer Relations in the Resilience of Youth Experiencing/At-Risk for Homelessness

Wed, April 7, 11:45am to 12:45pm EDT (11:45am to 12:45pm EDT), Virtual

Abstract

In the face of the difficulties associated with experiences of unstable housing conditions, such as limited economic resources and a risk for developing mental health problems, positive relationships with parental and peer figures are protective in the development of youth facing/at-risk for homelessness (Barman-Adhikari & Rice, 2014; Whitbeck, 2017). In order to understand the factors that promote resilience among these youth, we utilized a model of attachment security in which trust in others to be receptive and supportive in times of need is emphasized as is the confidence in one’s own ability to face and cope with obstacles (Allen et al., 2018; McElhaney et al., 2009; van Rosmalen et al., 2016). In that context, we explored the links among essential relationships, those with parents and peers, and various socioecological resources that are thought to contribute in the development of resilience among youth experiencing/at-risk for homelessness. The participants were 107 adolescents and young adults (Mage=21, SD=2.79) recruited from a hot meal program in an urban area. The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment was used to evaluate parent/peer relationships and The Child and Youth Resilience Measure to assess engagement in resilience resources. Mother, father, and peer attachment accounted for 51% of the variation in the participants’ engagement in individual resilience resources (R2=.51, Adjusted R2=.47). Among the attachment figures, only attachment with peers was a significant predictor of engagement in individual resilience resources, with higher scores on peer attachment associated with higher scores on engagement in individual resilience resources when mother and father attachment scores were held constant (β=.71, t=5.35, p=.00). As for the youth’s engagement in relational resilience resources, mother, father, and peer attachment accounted for 73% of the variation (R2=.73, Adjusted R2=.71). Among the attachment figures, only maternal and paternal attachment were significant predictors of youth’s engagement in relational resilience resources. In terms of mother attachment, higher scores were associated with higher scores on engagement in relational resilience resources when the father and peer attachment scores were held constant (β=.69, t=7.42, p=.00). For father attachment, higher scores were associated with higher scores on engagement in relational resilience resources when mother and peer attachment scores were held constant (β=.26, t=2.82, p=.01). In relation to engagement in contextual resilience resources, mother, father, and peer attachment accounted for 43% of the variation (R2=.43, Adjusted R2=.37). Among the attachment figures, only the attachment with peers was a significant predictor of engagement in contextual resilience resources, with higher scores on peer attachment associated with higher scores on engagement in contextual resilience resources when mother and father attachment scores were held constant (β=.47, t=3.15, p = .00). Our findings suggest that better relations with parental figures is associated with increased engagement in seeking support from significant relationships with others (relational resilience) among adolescents and young adults living under unstable housing conditions, while greater attachment with peers increases their engagement in utilizing personal coping techniques (individual resilience), such as motivation, as well as external environmental resources such as their participation in spiritual activities (contextual resilience).

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