title: Personal strengths of homeless adolescents living in a high-risk environment.
abstract: Health-risk behaviors and associated adverse health outcomes in homeless adolescents are well documented. Strengths of these youth that contribute to their health and well-being are seldom acknowledged. The purpose of this secondary analysis of qualitative data was to identify strengths that protect homeless youth. Two types of strengths emerged: resources and self-improvement. Resources served as the foundation for survival whereas self-improvement served as a process that enabled youth to consider a more healthy future. By recognizing the many strengths of homeless youth, nurses may develop community-based programs to help this population reenter society.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 78701, USA. ellerew@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rew
authors.forename: Sharon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Horner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D033062:Friends; D015438:Health Behavior; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010379:Peer Group; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment; D013781:Texas; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology*