DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOR IN HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME HOUSED PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

Objectives. To describe the characteristics of homeless and low-income preschool-aged children, and to identify family and environmental det erminants of their behavior. Methods. An unmatched case-control design was used to recruit a sample of sheltered homeless families and a com parison group of low-income housed families who were never homeless in Worcester, Massachusetts. Seventy-seven sheltered homeless and 90 low -income housed mothers with preschool-age children were assessed using a comprehensive interview protocol. Information about mothers' housin g, income, service use, parenting practices, and children's father was obtained. Data about children's background, health, and life events w ere included. Standardized instruments were administered to assess mot hers' mental health and their children's behavior. Comparisons of home less and low-income housed families were used to describe the sample o f 167 preschoolers. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association of various stressors, such as homelessness, and family fa ctors with their behavior. Results. Although homeless preschoolers wer e significantly more likely to have experienced stressful life events, undergone a fare and protection investigation, and been placed in fos ter care when compared with low income preschoolers, differences in ad verse behaviors were minimal. Although homeless children scored higher than housed children on the internalizing, externalizing, and total p roblem score on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (52.5 vs 49.9, 54. 8 vs 51.2, and 54.4 vs 51.1, respectively), approximately equal number s of children from both groups scored in the clinical range. With rega rd to determinants of behavior, mothers' emotional status was one of t he strongest independent predictors of negative behavioral outcomes on both subscales. Foster care placement and death of a child's friend w ere predictors of adverse internalizing behavioral outcomes on the CBC L. After controlling for housing status, parenting practices, child's age, child's history of physical abuse, and specific life stressors pr edicted adverse externalizing behavioral outcomes. For both subscales, housing status and behavior were only marginally associated in the mu ltivariate model. Conclusions. Both homeless and low-income children e xperienced significant adversity in their lives, with homeless prescho ol children facing more stress. However, differences in behavior as me asured by the CBCL were minimal. Mothers' emotional status, in additio n to various stressors, strongly predict children's negative outcomes for both CBCL subscales. These findings emphasize the importance of pr eventive family-oriented interventions that address the needs of presc hoolers and their mothers.