Methamphetamine Use among Homeless Former Foster Youth: The Mediating Role of Social Networks
OBJECTIVES:
Social
network analysis can provide added causal insight into otherwise confusing
epidemiologic findings in public health research. Although foster care and
homelessness are risk factors for methamphetamine use, current research has
failed to explicate why homeless youth with foster care experience engage in
methamphetamine use at higher rates than other homeless young adults. This
study examined the mediating effect of network engagement and time spent
homeless on the relationship between foster care experience and recent
methamphetamine use among homeless youth in Los Angeles.
METHODS:
Egocentric
network data from a cross-sectional community-based sample (n = 652) of homeless youth aged 13-25 were
collected from drop-in centers in Los Angeles. Questions addressed foster care
experience, time spent homeless, methamphetamine use, and perceived drug use in
social networks. Path analysis was performed in SAS to examine mediation.
RESULTS:
Controlling
for all other variables, results of path analysis regarding recent
methamphetamine use indicated a direct effect between foster care experience
and recent methamphetamine use (B = .269, t = 2.73, p < .01). However, this direct effect became
statistically nonsignificant when time spent homeless and network
methamphetamine use were added to the model, and indirect paths from time spent
homeless and network methamphetamine use became statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS:
Foster
care experience influenced recent methamphetamine use indirectly through time
spent homeless and methamphetamine use by network members. Efforts to reduce
methamphetamine use should focus on securing stable housing and addressing
network interactions among homeless former foster youth.
- 1School of Social Work, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA.
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