An Intervention to Enhance Psychological Capital in Homeless Females: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Purpose: Homeless young women ages 18-23 years are the most vulnerable of unstably-housed youth. They are prone to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies, and substance use/ abuse. The study aim was to determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 4-session intervention delivered at a drop-in site. We wanted to explore differences in indicators of psychological capital between participants in the intervention and those in an attention control group immediately following the intervention and 4 weeks later. Methods: Following IRB approval and written informed consent, 43 eligible homeless young women enrolled in the study (26 intervention and 18 control group; average age 1⁄4 21.2 years; 45.5% White, lived away from home approximately 57 days). The intervention and control conditionwere led by two sets of female group facilitators (one nursing student and one social work student) trained by the investigators to follow a manual with content and strategies to enhance psychological capital (intervention) and street health resources (control). Data were collected using valid scales (Cronbach’s alpha 1⁄4 .78-.96) by two other students at three times: prior to start-up of either group, immediately following the completion of the 4 sessions, and at a follow-up date 4 weeks later. Following the 4 sessions, participants in both intervention and control groups were each given a cell phone to use for the 4-week period between the second and third data collections. The purpose was to encourage those in the intervention to meet their goals and to remind those in the control group that we would collect data one more time. Each participant received a total of $45 for providing data at all three collections. Results: A statistically significant time effect was found in measures of hope (p < .001), resilience (p 1⁄4 .016), future time perspective (p 1⁄4 .025), safer sex behaviors (p < .043), and psychological capital (p 1⁄4 .034), over time, with intervention group participants showing significant improvement in hope (p 1⁄4 .012) and social connectedness (p 1⁄4 .028), and non-significant, but improved, self-efficacy to negotiate safe sex (p 1⁄4 .066). Although scores on self-efficacy to refuse alcohol also increased from baseline to times 2 and 3, a statistically significant time effect was not found. A time by group effect was found for resilience (p 1⁄4 .062) and optimism (p 1⁄4 .081), approaching significance. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first intervention for homeless youth based on a Positive Psychology paradigm. The significant preliminary intervention findings, despite the small sample size, are encouraging because they indicate that a brief group intervention delivered in a drop-in center may influence young women to enhance their psychological capital. Positive changes in psychological capital that include positive attitudes about the future can contribute to future healthy behaviors and quality of life. Sources of Support: Supported by R21NR013538 from the National Institute of Nursing Research/National Institutes of Health, awarded to the first author. 25.