An investigation of processes of adaptation in homeless school-aged children.

Abstract

A transactional stress model including stressors associated with homelessness, and social and personal resources of primary caregivers and children was examined in the present investigation. An ethnically heterogenous sample of thirty-eight primary caregivers and a target child between the ages of 6 and 12 who were currently experiencing a housing crisis participated. Positive and negative caregiving were investigated via path analyses as mediators of the influence of stress on three indices of children's psychosocial adaptation: (1) mental health; (2) adaptation to school; and (3) externalizing behavior. Although positive caregiving did not significantly mediate stress for any of the indices of children's psychosocial adaptation, negative caregiving significantly mediated the relationship between stress and children's adaptation to school. Primary caregivers' mental health and self-esteem were examined as mediators of the relationship between stressors, social supports, and caregiving. Caregivers' mental health was significantly predicted by stressors, and marginally related to caregiving; caregivers' self-esteem significantly mediated negative but not positive caregiving. Locus of control and self-esteem of children were examined as mediators of the relationship between caregiving, general social support, and the three indices of children's psychosocial adaptation identified above. Children's locus of control was a significant mediator for children's mental health and adaptation to school. Children's self-esteem was not a significant mediator in any of the models.