Discipline of Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban, 4041 South Africa ; Department of Psychology, Regent University College of Science & Technology, Accra, Ghana.
Discipline of Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban, 4041 South Africa.
Int J Ment Health Syst. 2015 Jan 3;9(1):1. doi: 10.1186/1752-4458-9-1. eCollection 2015.
Research on homeless youth has shown that this population is at high risk for various mental health problems. Previous studies conducted among homeless young adults in Ghana have focused primarily on economic, social and cultural causes of homelessness, their engagement in risky sexual behaviours and the prevalence of STI including HIV/AIDS. We are therefore not fully informed of the prevalence of psychological symptoms and their associated factors. The aim of the study was to determine the association between psychological functioning and social and health risk behaviours among a sample of homeless youth in Ghana.
A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 227 (122 male and 105 female) homeless youth was conducted in Ghana in 2013. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data due to low level of literacy among the study population. Pearson-moment correlation coefficient (r) and multiple standard regression models were fitted to analyse the data.
Approximately 87% of the participants in this study exhibited moderate to severe psychosocial symptoms. Specifically, emotional, conduct, hyperactivity and peer relationship problems among the participants were 69%, 74%, 54% and 89% respectively. Overall psychosocial functioning was predicted by stigma (self-stigma and experienced stigma), violent behaviours and suicidal ideation. Substance use and perceived resilience were significantly associated with emotional problems.
There is a need for holistic interventions to help improve the psychological and social functioning of homeless youth. Such programmes should strengthen socio-emotional coping strategies in street youth as well as address contextual risk factors such as stigma and discrimination by the public.
研究表明，无家可归的青年群体面临着各种心理健康问题的高风险。此前在加纳进行的无家可归青年研究主要集中在无家可归的经济、社会和文化原因、他们从事危险性行为以及性传播感染（包括艾滋病毒/艾滋病）的流行情况。因此，我们对心理症状的流行情况及其相关因素了解不足。本研究旨在确定加纳无家可归青年样本中心理功能与社会和健康风险行为之间的关联。
2013 年，在加纳对一个方便样本的 227 名（122 名男性和 105 名女性）无家可归青年进行了横断面调查。由于研究人群的文化程度较低，因此使用访谈者管理的问卷收集数据。使用 Pearson 矩相关系数（r）和多元标准回归模型对数据进行分析。
本研究约有 87%的参与者表现出中度至重度心理社会症状。具体而言，参与者的情绪、行为、多动和同伴关系问题分别为 69%、74%、54%和 89%。耻辱感（自我耻辱感和经历耻辱感）、暴力行为和自杀意念总体上预测了心理社会功能。物质使用和感知的恢复力与情绪问题显著相关。
需要采取整体干预措施来帮助改善无家可归青年的心理和社会功能。这些方案应加强街头青年的社会情感应对策略，并解决公众的耻辱感和歧视等背景风险因素。
