Adverse childhood experiences: Are they risk factors for adult homelessness?

D.B. Herman, E.S. Susser, E.L. Struening and B.L. Link

American Journal of Public Health, 1997, vol. 87, issue 2, 249-255

Abstract: Objectives. We tested the hypothesis that adverse childhood experiences are risk factors for adult homelessness. Methods. We interviewed a nationally representative sample of 92 US household members who had previously been homeless and a comparison group of 395 individuals with no prior homelessness. We assessed childhood adversity with a structured protocol that included a previously validated scale indicating lack of care from parents and single-item measures of physical and sexual abuse. Results. Lack of care from a parent during childhood sharply increased the likelihood of subsequent homelessness (odds ratio [OR] = 13), as did physical abuse (OR = 16). Sexual abuse during childhood was associated with a nonsignificant trend toward homelessness (OR = 1.7). The risk of subsequent homelessness among individuals who experienced both lack of care and either type of abuse was dramatically increased compared with subjects reporting neither of these adversities (OR = 26). Conclusions. Adverse childhood experiences are powerful risk factors for adult homelessness. Effectively reducing child abuse and neglect may ultimately help prevent critical social problems including homelessness.

Date: 1997
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1997:87:2:249-255_7

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