title: Methamphetamine Use among Homeless Former Foster Youth: The Mediating Role of Social Networks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshioka-Maxwell
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Harmony
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rhoades
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Hailey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Winetrobe
keywords: former foster youth; homeless youth; mediation; social network analysis; substance use