Psychological factors strengthening homeless youths' life satisfaction

Life satisfaction among homeless youth is particularly low, yet remains a poorly investigated phenomenon. This study aims to explore three positive psychological factors related to homeless youth's life satisfaction: self-esteem, coping strategies, and social support. Seventy-four homeless adolescents from eight different shelters in Quebec (Canada) were interviewed to fill out self-report questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis revealed that coping strategies focused on solving the problem, positive self-esteem, and to worry less about the future contributed the most to homeless youths' life satisfaction. These psychological variables contributed to life satisfaction after adjusting for a set of potential covariates: gender, sexual abuse, and mental health. In conclusion, improving homeless youths' self-esteem, developing their capacity to actively solve their problems, and finding alternatives to unproductive worry seem to represent key components for enhancing homeless adolescents' life satisfaction.