Positive attributes and life satisfaction in homeless youth

Abstract

The purpose of this secondary analysis of data from an ongoing, longitudinal intervention study for homeless youths (ages 18–24 years) was threefold: (1) to differentiate by age, sex, and sexual orientation, the positive attributes of hope, optimism, resilience, future time perspective, and gratitude, (2) to determine how these positive attributes might be related to life satisfaction, and (3) to determine which set of variables might best explain life satisfaction. We found a statistically significant difference in resilience scores by sex, H(2) = 6.591, p = .037, with males scoring higher than females. None of the other positive attributes differed significantly by sex. Future time perspective (FTP) differed significantly by sexual orientation with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth scoring higher than others on FTP (p = .046). All theoretical variables (hope, optimism, FTP, resilience, and gratitude) were significantly related to life satisfaction (p < .01). After controlling for all other variables, hope and gratitude significantly explained variance in life satisfaction (p < .001). This analysis supports the claim that despite their vulnerabilities and limitations, homeless youths have many positive attributes that are related to their life satisfaction. It may be that future interventions focused on positive attributes of hope and gratitude can be developed to further enhance psychological capital and contribute to life satisfaction among these young people.