title: Exploring the factors associated with youth homelessness and arrests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The high rate of arrests among homeless youths has stimulated a growing interest in uncovering the factors associated with police involvement in this population. This study explored external factors related to their arrests.
  
  
  METHODS
  This secondary analysis involved 186 homeless youths. The difference between youths who reported arrests and those who did not was examined based on the following variables: economic status, meaningful activity, involvement with other homeless peers, mental illness, and drug use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study showed a significant association between drug use and arrests, length of time homeless and arrests, and depression and arrests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The various factors thought to be associated with arrests likely interact with one another, making it difficult to directly link a specific behavior to being arrested.
authors.affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forchuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arrests; homeless youth; mental health; substance use