PSYCHOLOGICAL MALADJUSTMENT AMONG HOMELESS ADOLESCENTS

The prevalence of psychological maladjustment in homeless adolescents (n = 54) was compared to a control group (n = 58) in Brisbane, Australia using the Youth Self-Report Scale [1]. Overall, 74% of the homeless group and 22.4% of the control group scored within the clinical range on one or more of the clinical subscales. There was considerable diversity of symptomatology in the homeless group. Less than half of the homeless group were within the clinical range on both the delinquent subscale and the thought disorder subscale. Depressive, Aggressive and Somatic Complaints were also prevalent. The study challenges preconceived notions of a simple relationship between adolescent homelessness and delinquency, and draws attention to the psychological needs of this group of adolescents.