Parenting, parental mental health, and child functioning in families residing in supportive housing.
Abstract
Long-term homelessness is associated with other psychosocial risk factors (e.g., adult mental illness, substance abuse, and exposure to violence). All of these factors are associated with impairments in parenting effectiveness and child adjustment, but there are very limited data investigating parenting among families who are homeless and highly mobile. In particular, there is no literature examining the relationships among observed parenting, parental mental health, and child adjustment in a supportive housing sample. Data are reported from a multimethod study of 200 children in 127 families residing in supportive housing agencies in a large metro area. Observed parenting and parents' mental health symptoms directly affected children's adjustment. The influence of parenting self-efficacy on children's adjustment was mediated through its impact on observed parenting. However, observed parenting did not mediate the relationship between parental mental health and child adjustment. Implications for research and practice with homeless populations are offered.
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Chronic housing instability is associated with elevated caregiver stress, altered emotional regulation, and competing survival demands, which may influence caregiving consistency and responsiveness.
“Chronic housing instability is associated with elevated caregiver stress, altered emotional regulation, and competing survival demands, which may influence caregiving consistency and responsiveness (80).”
From Epigenetic changes associated with multi-generational trauma: characterization, mechanisms, and therapeutics (2026) · cites this paper as [80]
Chronic housing instability reflects sustained environmental stress associated with prolonged activation of stress-responsive physiological systems.
“Chronic housing instability reflects sustained environmental stress associated with prolonged activation of stress-responsive physiological systems.”
From Epigenetic changes associated with multi-generational trauma: characterization, mechanisms, and therapeutics (2026) · cites this paper as [80]
Cites
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“Thus, consistent with resilience research (e.g., Masten, 2001) our findings indicate the presence of child strengths, absence of symptoms, and strong parenting among some families in supportive housing.”
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“Chronic housing instability is associated with elevated caregiver stress, altered emotional regulation, and competing survival demands, which may in fl uence caregiving consistency and responsiveness (80).”
- Authors
- Gewirtz, A. H., DeGarmo, D. S., Plowman, E. J., August, G., & Realmuto, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Oregon Social Learning Center (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
- Published
- 2009
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 336-347
- ISSN
- 0002-9432 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-0025
- OpenAlex
- W2140071629
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 7.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH074610-01)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (P30 DA023920)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Homelessness and Social Issues
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
- Keywords
- parenting, parental mental health, child adjustment, supported housing, homelessness, parental self-efficacy, mediation, families with children, psychosocial risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Child, Psychology, Child, Ill-Housed Persons, Humans, Mental Health, Parents, Public Housing, Stress, Psychological, Multivariate Analysis, Parenting, Homeless Youth, Self Efficacy
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