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Supporting Families Experiencing Homelessness pp 37–55Cite as

Trauma Exposures and Mental Health Outcomes Among Sheltered Children and Youth Ages 6–18

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Abstract

Children living in families without homes endure multiple risks associated with poor mental health and adaptive functioning. Research over a 20-year period has demonstrated that this growing population of vulnerable children is at risk for elevated rates of internalizing and externalizing disorders and symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress. School-age children also lag behind peers due to high rates of learning disabilities and cognitive delays. This chapter outlines research in the area and provides recommendations for promoting positive mental health outcomes in precariously housed children and families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Community Psychologist and Consultant, Boston, MA, USA

    Beryl Ann Cowan J.D., Ph.D.

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  1. Beryl Ann Cowan J.D., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Beryl Ann Cowan J.D., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

    Mary E. Haskett

  2. University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA

    Staci Perlman

  3. Arlington, Massachusetts, USA

    Beryl Ann Cowan

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Cowan, B.A. (2014). Trauma Exposures and Mental Health Outcomes Among Sheltered Children and Youth Ages 6–18. In: Haskett, M., Perlman, S., Cowan, B. (eds) Supporting Families Experiencing Homelessness. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8718-0_3

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