Chapter 5: Psychosocial Characteristics of Mexican Girls and Female Adolescents at Risk of Homelessness

Women at risk of homelessness present psychosocial deficits at a higher degree than the rest of the general population. Such features diminish their psychological functioning, well-being, and health-related quality of life. Still, few studies worldwide have addressed their psychological traits. This study examined some psychosocial characteristics (e.g. anxiety, depression, assertiveness, and emotion regulation) present in a group of Mexican females at risk of homelessness. The main findings revealed that functional emotion regulation strategies and anxiety explained 31% and 58.5% of the variance for assertiveness and depression, respectively. Results in this study support assertive behaviours and emotion regulation strategies as protective factors and serve as evidence for a risk and resilience framework. Clinical implications are that effective treatments should focus on these traits from a multicultural approach to address the psychological needs of this vulnerable group efficiently.