Survival Strategies of Male Homeless Adolescents

Abstract

Background: A total of 1.7 million youth are homeless in America and nearly half are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The purpose of this study is to investigate survival strategies, anxiety, and self-esteem among male homeless adolescents. Objectives: This study tested two hypotheses: (a) Survival strategies of homeless adolescents differ by sexual orientation/gender identity. (b) There is a relationship between survival strategies and sexual orientation/gender identity, amount of time homeless, self-esteem, and state/trait anxiety. Design: A comparative-descriptive study was conducted in six large cities. Seventy 16- to 20-year-old homeless male adolescents were recruited. Results: Survival strategies did not significantly vary by sexual orientation; however, some differences may be of clinical relevance. Conclusions: Homeless youth of all sexual orientations/gender identities were using diverse strategies to survive. Psychiatric nurses are in a unique position to assist these youth.