Background

Housing insecurity is endemic among low-income, marginalized families throughout the United States. Unstably housed families face increased likelihood of coming into contact with various social systems that upend family routines and norms, but the roles of these contacts in linking housing insecurity with long-term adolescent outcomes are unknown.

Objective

The present study tested whether family contacts with the criminal justice and child welfare systems mediated links between housing insecurity and adverse adolescent outcomes.

Participants and setting

Data came from at-risk families with children born 1998–2000 in 20 large American cities followed over 15 years (N = 2,892).

Methods

Structural equation modeling estimated a measurement model using confirmatory factor analysis and a structural model testing direct and indirect pathways from housing insecurity to adolescent depression and delinquency via contact with the criminal justice and child welfare systems.

Results

Housing insecurity was associated with increased contact with both the criminal justice and child welfare systems. Housing insecurity at age 5 was directly associated with adolescent depression at age 15 (β = 0.09, p < 0.05) and indirectly associated with adolescent delinquency via mothers’ criminal justice (β = 0.04, p < 0.05) and child welfare (β = 0.07, p < 0.05) contacts.

Conclusions

Families with high needs may face stigma or seek assistance that increases surveillance of families and thus likelihood for sanctioning by the criminal justice and child welfare systems. Providers and systems working with low-income, insecurely housed families must consider stigma faced by clients to avoid further marginalizing underserved populations.

中文翻译：

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住房不安全和青少年福祉：与儿童福利和刑事司法参与的关系

背景

住房不安全在美国各地的低收入、边缘化家庭中很普遍。住房不稳定的家庭更有可能接触到各种颠覆家庭惯例和规范的社会制度，但这些接触在将住房不安全与青少年长期结果联系起来方面的作用尚不清楚。

客观的

本研究测试了家庭与刑事司法和儿童福利系统的联系是否介导了住房不安全与青少年不良后果之间的联系。

参与者和设置

数据来自于 1998-2000 年在美国 20 个大城市出生的有孩子的高危家庭，随访超过 15 年 ( N = 2,892)。

方法

结构方程模型使用验证性因素分析和结构模型来估计测量模型，该结构模型通过与刑事司法和儿童福利系统的联系来测试从住房不安全到青少年抑郁和犯罪的直接和间接途径。

结果

住房不安全与刑事司法和儿童福利系统的联系增加有关。5 岁时的住房不安全与 15 岁时的青少年抑郁症直接相关 ( β = 0.09, p < 0.05)，并通过母亲的刑事司法 ( β = 0.04, p < 0.05) 和儿童福利 ( β = 0.07 ) 间接与青少年犯罪有关, p < 0.05) 接触。

结论

有高需求的家庭可能会面临污名或寻求援助，从而增加对家庭的监视，从而有可能受到刑事司法和儿童福利系统的制裁。与低收入、住房不安全的家庭合作的提供商和系统必须考虑客户面临的耻辱，以避免进一步边缘化服务不足的人群。