IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i15p5301-d388509.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Urban Stress Indirectly Influences Psychological Symptoms through Its Association with Distress Tolerance and Perceived Social Support among Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Author

Listed:
  • Daphne C. Hernandez

    (Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

  • Sajeevika S. Daundasekara

    (Department of Health & Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Michael J. Zvolensky

    (Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
    HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Lorraine R. Reitzel

    (HEALTH Research Institute, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
    Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Diane Santa Maria

    (Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

  • Adam C. Alexander

    (Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK 73104, USA)

  • Darla E. Kendzor

    (Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK 73104, USA)

  • Michael S. Businelle

    (Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK 73104, USA)

Abstract

Traditionally, intrapersonal characteristics (distress tolerance) and interpersonal characteristics (social support) have been studied separately rather than simultaneously. In the current study, we address this gap by simultaneously examining these characteristics as potential indirect associations linking established urban stress–depression and urban stress–Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) relationships. Adults experiencing homelessness were recruited from six homeless shelters in Oklahoma City (n = 567). Participants self-reported urban life stress (Urban Life Stress Scale), distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Scale), social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List 12), major depressive disorder (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and PTSD symptoms (Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder screener). Covariate-adjusted structural equation models indicated a significant indirect effect of distress tolerance on the urban stress–depression (b = 0.101, 95% CI = 0.061, 0.147) and urban stress–PTSD (b = 0.065, 95% CI = 0.023, 0.112) relationships. Additionally, a significant indirect effect of social support on the urban stress–depression (b = 0.091, 95% CI = 0.053, 0.133) and urban stress-PTSD relationships (b = 0.043, 95% CI = 0.006, 0.082) was evident. Further, both the urban stress–depression (b = 0.022, 95% CI = 0.011, 0.037) and urban stress–PTSD relationships (b = 0.014, 95% CI = 0.005, 0.026) were associated indirectly through social support to distress tolerance. Interventions that aim to increase social support may also increase distress tolerance skills and indirectly reduce depressive and PTSD symptoms in the context of urban stress among adults experiencing homelessness.

Suggested Citation

  • Daphne C. Hernandez & Sajeevika S. Daundasekara & Michael J. Zvolensky & Lorraine R. Reitzel & Diane Santa Maria & Adam C. Alexander & Darla E. Kendzor & Michael S. Businelle, 2020. "Urban Stress Indirectly Influences Psychological Symptoms through Its Association with Distress Tolerance and Perceived Social Support among Adults Experiencing Homelessness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-15, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5301-:d:388509
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/15/5301/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/15/5301/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fischer, P.J. & Shapiro, S. & Breakey, W.R. & Anthony, J.C. & Kramer, M., 1986. "Mental health and social characteristics of the homeless: A survey of mission users," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 76(5), pages 519-524.
    2. Wong, Yin-Ling Irene & Piliavin, Irving, 2001. "Stressors, resources, and distress among homeless persons: : a longitudinal analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 52(7), pages 1029-1042, April.
    3. White, A.M. & Philogene, G.S. & Fine, L. & Sinha, S., 2009. "Social support and self-reported health status of older adults in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(10), pages 1872-1878.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. David A. Sleet & Louis Hugo Francescutti, 2021. "Homelessness and Public Health: A Focus on Strategies and Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-6, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lee, Christopher Thomas & Guzman, David & Ponath, Claudia & Tieu, Lina & Riley, Elise & Kushel, Margot, 2016. "Residential patterns in older homeless adults: Results of a cluster analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 131-140.
    2. M. Audrey Burnam & Paul Koegel, 1988. "Methodology for Obtaining a Representative Sample of Homeless Persons," Evaluation Review, , vol. 12(2), pages 117-152, April.
    3. Jin You & Helene Fung & Peter Vitaliano, 2020. "The pattern of social support seeking and its socio-demographic variations among older adults in China," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 341-348, September.
    4. Liu, Yiwei & Duan, Yanan & Xu, Ling, 2020. "Volunteer service and positive attitudes toward aging among Chinese older adults: The mediating role of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    5. Robert Gajda & Marzena Jeżewska-Zychowicz, 2021. "The importance of social financial support in reducing food insecurity among elderly people," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(3), pages 717-727, June.
    6. Walid Abdul Hamid & Til Wykes & Stephen Stansfeld, 1993. "The Homeless Mentally Ill: Myths and Realities," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 39(4), pages 237-254, December.
    7. Margie E Lachman & Stefan Agrigoroaei, 2010. "Promoting Functional Health in Midlife and Old Age: Long-Term Protective Effects of Control Beliefs, Social Support, and Physical Exercise," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(10), pages 1-9, October.
    8. Kimberly A. Rapoza & Kemesha Vassell & Denise T. Wilson & Thomas W. Robertson & Dana J. Manzella & Alberto Luis Ortiz-Garcia & Lorielle A. Jimenez-Lazar, 2016. "Attachment as a Moderating Factor Between Social Support, Physical Health, and Psychological Symptoms," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(4), pages 21582440166, December.
    9. Anupam Joya Sharma & Malavika A Subramanyam, 2020. "Psychological wellbeing of middle-aged and older queer men in India: A mixed-methods approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, March.
    10. Heather Booth & Pilar Rioseco & Heather Crawford, 2014. "What can reverse causation tell us about demographic differences in the social network and social support determinants of self-rated health in later life?," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 12(1), pages 23-52.
    11. Jeffrey Stovall & Joseph Flaherty, 1994. "Homeless Women, Disaffiliation and Social Agencies," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 40(2), pages 135-140, June.
    12. Gale, Nicola K. & Kenyon, Sara & MacArthur, Christine & Jolly, Kate & Hope, Lucy, 2018. "Synthetic social support: Theorizing lay health worker interventions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 96-105.
    13. Rosanna Scutella & Guy Johnson, 2012. "Locating and Designing 'Journeys Home': A Literature Review (Journeys Home: A Longitudinal Study of Factors Affecting Housing Stability)," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2012n11, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    14. Allgood, Sam & Moore, Myra L. & Warren, Ronald Jr., 1997. "The Duration of Sheltered Homelessness in a Small City," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 60-80, March.
    15. Tobin, Karin E. & Winiker, Abigail & Moran, Marybeth & Felsher, Marisa & Owczarzak, Jill, 2023. "No one runs alone: Combining community-based program evaluation with photo elicitation interviewing among people experiencing homelessness," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    16. Cheng, Cheng, 2017. "Anticipated support from children and later-life health in the United States and China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 201-209.
    17. Paraskevi Chondraki & Michael G Madianos & Elena Dragioti & George N Papadimitriou, 2014. "Homeless mentally ill in Athens area: A cross-sectional study on unmet needs and help-seeking," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(6), pages 544-553, September.
    18. Laure Sabatier & Spencer Moore, 2015. "Do Our Friends and Relatives Help Us Better Assess Our Health? Examining the Role of Social Networks in the Correspondence Between Self-Rated Health and Having Metabolic Syndrome," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(3), pages 21582440156, September.
    19. Jerf W. K. Yeung, 2018. "Religion, Volunteerism and Health: Are Religious People Really Doing Well by Doing Good?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 138(2), pages 809-828, July.
    20. Morey, Brittany N. & Valencia, Connie & Park, Hye Won & Lee, Sunmin, 2021. "The central role of social support in the health of Chinese and Korean American immigrants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5301-:d:388509. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.