Language

English

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Journal

Public Health Nursing

DOI

10.1111/phn.13136

PMID

36251216

PMCID

PMC9844081

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

10-17-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

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

Adolescent, Humans, Young Adult, COVID-19, Pandemics, Housing, Adaptation, Psychological, Ill-Housed Persons, Substance-Related Disorders, COVID‐19, mental health, substance use, young adults, youth experiencing homelessness

Published Open-Access

yes

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