STRESS, COPING, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG HOMELESS YOUTH

Evaluated in this study war the extent to which stress, coping strateg ies, and social support were associated with depressive symptoms, poor physical health, and substance use in homeless youth. Data were obtai ned from a stratified random sample of 432 homeless youth recruited fr om service sites and street sites in Los Angeles, California. Stressfu l life events were associated positively with symptoms of depression, poor physical health, and substance use. Use of emotion-focused coping strategies increased the risk of symptoms of depression, poor health, and substance-use disorders, whereas use of problem-focused coping st rategies decreased the risk of alcohol use disorder and poor health. S ocial support decreased the risk of symptoms of depression and poor he alth but war not related to the risk of substance use. Results indicat e that effective coping skills rind social support may counteract the negative effects of stressful life events on physical and psychologica l health in homeless youth.