Risk for Housing Insecurity Among Youth across Sexual Orientation and Child Maltreatment History

Background and Purpose: Research suggests an association between sexual minority identity and risk for youth housing insecurity through various trajectories (e.g., thrown out of home, running away). Additionally, limited evidence suggests a link between child/adolescent lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) identity and risk for parental child maltreatment (CM). Much remains to be learned regarding the interaction of a child’s sexual orientation and maltreatment history. Multiple short- and long-term negative outcomes are associated with CM, yet little is known about consequences specific to sexual minority youth. The purpose of the present study was to examine risk for housing insecurity during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood across sexual orientation and child maltreatment histories.

Methods: Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) was used to examine risk for housing instability. Add Health is a nationally representative study that explores adolescents’ health behaviors and outcomes as they transition to young adulthood. The present study used data from Wave I Parent Questionnaire (1994-1995) and Wave III In-Home Interview of respondents (N = 15,197; 2001-2002). Self-reported sexual identity at Wave III was 90.1% heterosexual and 9.9% LGB. CM history was measured by self-reported physical abuse (3 or more instances of being slapped, hit, or kicked by parent/caregiver), sexual abuse (any reported instance), or neglect (3 or more instances of either parent/caregiver leaving respondent alone by start of 6^th grade or not taking care of respondent’s basic needs). Binary logistic regression with an analytic sample of 13,860 was used to analyze risk for housing insecurity which was measured by self-reports of being forced out of parental home, running away, staying in a shelter within past week, being homeless for a week or longer, or having ever stayed in a homeless shelter.

Results: Risk for housing insecurity was assessed across four groups: heterosexual with no CM history (62.7%), heterosexual with CM history (27.3%), LGB with no CM history (6.2%), and LGB with CM history (3.8%). Odds ratios (OR) from weighted binary logistic regression analyses revealed statistically significant increased risk for housing insecurity for the following respondent groups: LGBs with CM histories (OR = 4.49, p < .001, 95% CI[3.35-6.01]), heterosexuals with CM histories (OR = 2.56, p < .001, 95% CI[2.17-3.02]), and LGBs with no CM histories (OR = 1.87, p < .001, 95% CI[1.43-2.46]).

Conclusions and Implications: We found evidence of increased risk for housing insecurity among LGB youth and youth who experienced CM. LGB youth with CM histories demonstrated the highest housing insecurity risk among the groups examined. Our results support prior research that suggests increased risk for LGB youth homelessness and CM. Findings indicate the need to assess readiness of child welfare and family/youth services to address this problem through prevention and interventions programs. Further research is warranted regarding risk and protective factors associated with maltreatment and housing insecurity of LGB and transgender children/adolescents.