Mental Health, Resilience, and Life Satisfaction Among Young Adults Living in Public Housing

Background and Purpose: One way to ensure healthy development for all youth is to understand the factors that contribute to mental health and resilience in vulnerable communities. Previous research with young adults in public housing indicates that they are at higher risk for depression, yet little is known about other aspects of mental health and resilience for this neglected population. The purpose of this study is to: 1) Describe the demographics, mental health, and resilience of young adults living in public housing and, 2) Analyze the association between potentially stressful experiences, mental health symptoms, substance use, arrest history, life satisfaction, and resilience.

Methods: Young adults (ages 18 to 30) were recruited from public housing developments in an East Coast city using area sampling. The following measures were used 1) UCLA PTSD Reaction Index, 2) Patient Health Questionnaire, 3) Satisfaction with Life Scale, and 4) Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Demographic data was also gathered. Descriptive analyses were conducted for each variable, and diagnostics were examined for multivariate regression analyses. Ordinary least squares and logistic regression were utilized with a p<.05 significance level.  

Results: Young adult participants (N=120, Mean Age=24.3, SD=3.61, 63% female, 50% Latino, 26% Black, 12% Asian, 10% Multiracial or Other, 2% White) were recruited. Forty-two percent reported being employed, 22% were in school, 29% reported an episode of homelessness, and 12% had a history of foster care involvement. Twenty-nine percent met the cut-off score for major depression, and 11% met the cut-off score for PTSD. Fifty-seven percent reported using tobacco, 77% alcohol, and 60% cannabis. Participants experienced an average of 3.8 traumatic experiences in their lifetime, with being exposed to a disaster (60%) and seeing someone in the neighborhood beaten up, shot, or killed (56%) being experienced most frequently. The mean level of life satisfaction was 19.89 (SD=6.88) and resilience was 28.86 (SD=6.12), indicating these young adults perceive their lives, and capacity to rebound, at similar levels as the US adult population. The number of potentially traumatic events (OR=1.30, CI=1.07-1.59) and homelessness (OR=3.32, CI=1.17-9.42) were associated with a higher likelihood of major depression. Young adults who used cannabis reported higher post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms (b=5.95, SE=2.36). Males (OR=2.57, CI=1.01-6.50) and those with higher PTS symptoms (OR=1.04, CI=1.01-1.10) were more likely to have been arrested. Those who were more depressed (b=-.55, SE=0.14), those who use cannabis (b=-4.33, SE=0.001) and those who had been homeless (b=-3.16, SE=1.43) were less satisfied with their lives. Conversely, young adults with foster care histories reported more life satisfaction (b=4.56, SE=1.93). Finally, community violence (b=0.09, SE=0.03) and foster care history (b=3.89, SE=1.84) was associated with more resilience, whereas those who were more depressed (b=-0.32) reported lower levels of resilience.

Conclusions and Implications: Young adults living in public housing face a number of challenges that may increase their risk of depression, trauma symptoms, and of being arrested. Yet, even with challenges, these young adults evidence tremendous resilience. Future interventions could focus on helping young adult clients cope with traumas and homelessness in ways other than using cannabis.