Coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults experiencing homelessness and unstable housing: A qualitative study

Karen Di Valerio Gibbs; Jennifer Torres Jones; Whitney LaMark; Sarah Abdulmooti; Lauren Bretz; Kelly D. Kearney; Sarah Carter Narendorf; Diane M. Santa Maria

doi:10.1111/phn.13136

Coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults experiencing homelessness and unstable housing: A qualitative study

Karen Di Valerio Gibbs, Jennifer Torres Jones, Whitney LaMark, Sarah Abdulmooti, Lauren Bretz, Kelly D. Kearney, Sarah Carter Narendorf, Diane M. Santa Maria

Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) experience more stressors compared to housed peers, yet little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these youth. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how YAEH perceived the pandemic's impact on their well-being and coping. Methods: YAEH were recruited from those participating in an HIV prevention study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysis was guided by Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping. Results: Four major themes were identified from interviews with 40 youth: (1) ongoing harms, (2) COVID-19 as a stressor, (3) mental health impacts, and (4) coping strategies. Participants described unmet basic needs, emotions of frustration and anxiety, and several coping strategies including substance use. Conclusion: Many YAEH reported experiencing continued challenges that were compounded by the stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special considerations are needed to address pandemic-related exacerbations of mental health symptoms and substance use among YAEH.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	17-27
Number of pages	11
Journal	Public Health Nursing
Volume	40
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13136
State	Published - Jan 1 2023

Keywords

COVID-19
mental health
substance use
young adults
youth experiencing homelessness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Nursing
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1111/phn.13136

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title = "Coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults experiencing homelessness and unstable housing: A qualitative study",

abstract = "Background: Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) experience more stressors compared to housed peers, yet little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these youth. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how YAEH perceived the pandemic's impact on their well-being and coping. Methods: YAEH were recruited from those participating in an HIV prevention study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysis was guided by Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping. Results: Four major themes were identified from interviews with 40 youth: (1) ongoing harms, (2) COVID-19 as a stressor, (3) mental health impacts, and (4) coping strategies. Participants described unmet basic needs, emotions of frustration and anxiety, and several coping strategies including substance use. Conclusion: Many YAEH reported experiencing continued challenges that were compounded by the stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special considerations are needed to address pandemic-related exacerbations of mental health symptoms and substance use among YAEH.",

keywords = "COVID-19, mental health, substance use, young adults, youth experiencing homelessness",

author = "Gibbs, {Karen Di Valerio} and Jones, {Jennifer Torres} and Whitney LaMark and Sarah Abdulmooti and Lauren Bretz and Kearney, {Kelly D.} and Narendorf, {Sarah Carter} and {Santa Maria}, {Diane M.}",

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AU - Bretz, Lauren

AU - Kearney, Kelly D.

AU - Narendorf, Sarah Carter

AU - Santa Maria, Diane M.

PY - 2023/1/1

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N2 - Background: Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) experience more stressors compared to housed peers, yet little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these youth. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how YAEH perceived the pandemic's impact on their well-being and coping. Methods: YAEH were recruited from those participating in an HIV prevention study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysis was guided by Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping. Results: Four major themes were identified from interviews with 40 youth: (1) ongoing harms, (2) COVID-19 as a stressor, (3) mental health impacts, and (4) coping strategies. Participants described unmet basic needs, emotions of frustration and anxiety, and several coping strategies including substance use. Conclusion: Many YAEH reported experiencing continued challenges that were compounded by the stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special considerations are needed to address pandemic-related exacerbations of mental health symptoms and substance use among YAEH.

AB - Background: Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) experience more stressors compared to housed peers, yet little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these youth. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how YAEH perceived the pandemic's impact on their well-being and coping. Methods: YAEH were recruited from those participating in an HIV prevention study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysis was guided by Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping. Results: Four major themes were identified from interviews with 40 youth: (1) ongoing harms, (2) COVID-19 as a stressor, (3) mental health impacts, and (4) coping strategies. Participants described unmet basic needs, emotions of frustration and anxiety, and several coping strategies including substance use. Conclusion: Many YAEH reported experiencing continued challenges that were compounded by the stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special considerations are needed to address pandemic-related exacerbations of mental health symptoms and substance use among YAEH.

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KW - substance use

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KW - youth experiencing homelessness

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Coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults experiencing homelessness and unstable housing: A qualitative study

Abstract

Keywords

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