Rhoades Harmony, Hsu Hsun-Ta, Rice Eric, Harris Taylor, LaMotte-Kerr Wichada, Winetrobe Hailey, Henwood Benjamin, Wenzel Suzanne
University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Montgomery Ross Fisher Building, Los Angeles, CA 90089.
University of Missouri, School of Social Work, 709 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211.
Netw Sci (Camb Univ Press). 2021 Mar;9(1):18-34. doi: 10.1017/nws.2020.19. Epub 2020 Jul 13.
Social relationships are important among persons experiencing homelessness, but there is little research on changes in social networks among persons moving into permanent supportive housing (PSH). Using data collected as part of a longitudinal study of 405 adults (aged 39+) moving into PSH, this study describes network upheaval during this critical time of transition. Interviews conducted prior to and after three months of living in PSH assessed individual-level characteristics (demographics, homelessness history, health and mental health) and included a social network component that assessed network size and composition (demographics, relationship type, social support); interviewers utilized network member characteristics to assess whether network members were new or sustained between baseline and 3 months post-housing. Multilevel logistic regression models assessed what characteristics of network members were associated with being newly-gained or persisting in networks 3 months after moving into PSH. We found that only one-third of social networks were retained during the transition to PSH, and that veterans, African Americans and other persons of racial/ethnic minorities, and those living in scattered-site housing were more likely to experience network disruption. Relatives, romantic partners, and service providers were most likely to be retained after move-in. Some network change was moderated by tie strength, including the retention of street-met persons. Implications are discussed.
社会关系在无家可归者中很重要，但对于搬进永久性支持性住房（PSH）的人而言，社会网络变化的研究却很少。本研究利用一项针对405名（39岁及以上）搬进PSH的成年人的纵向研究收集的数据，描述了这一关键过渡时期的网络动荡。在入住PSH三个月前后进行的访谈评估了个人层面的特征（人口统计学、无家可归史、健康和心理健康状况），并包括一个社会网络部分，该部分评估了网络规模和构成（人口统计学、关系类型、社会支持）；访谈者利用网络成员的特征来评估网络成员在基线和入住后3个月之间是新结识的还是持续交往的。多水平逻辑回归模型评估了网络成员的哪些特征与搬进PSH三个月后新结识或仍留在网络中的情况相关。我们发现，在向PSH过渡期间，只有三分之一的社会网络得以保留，退伍军人、非裔美国人以及其他种族/族裔少数群体，还有那些居住在分散式住房中的人更有可能经历网络中断。亲属、浪漫伴侣和服务提供者在入住后最有可能被保留下来。一些网络变化受到关系强度的调节，包括与在街头结识的人的关系保留情况。本文讨论了相关影响。
