The Resilience Experiences of Young Children and Adolescents in Families Experiencing Homelessness and Housing Instability

Families experiencing homelessness and housing instability (FEH/HI) face myriad challenges, placing their children at risk for adverse outcomes. Research typically adopts a deficit-based approach to meet immediate needs, but this may limit understanding of the children’s experiences. Recognizing children’s strengths is important for improving their health, development, and support. Resilience and family resilience are concepts that draw on a strengths-based approach. However, there is a need for more research to identify the strengths, such as resilience, among families and their children who are not stably housed. The present research seeks to address the gaps in the literature by examining the resilience perceptions and experiences of adolescents in FEH/HI, as much of the existing research focuses on the adult perspectives, within a family resilience framework through multiple studies. Study 1 (Chapter 2) systematically reviewed existing research on resilience and family resilience within FEH/HI. An analysis of 27 studies identified resilience-related factors across individual, interpersonal, and community domains. Study 2 (Chapter 3) integrated a strengths- and deficit-based approach to explore the challenges and strengths of children in FEH/HI from the perspectives of parents/caregivers and service providers. Semi-structured interviews with 17 parents/caregivers and 15 service providers identified challenges and strengths at the individual, interpersonal, and system levels. Study 3 (Chapter 4) investigated how adolescents within FEH/HI experience and make meaning of family resilience in their day-to-day lives using photo-elicitation (PE) and Froma Walsh’s family resilience framework. Four adolescents participated and took photographs depicting family resilience within their families. Together, findings from these studies provide insights into the strengths and resilience within FEH/HI. Moreover, they emphasize the need for strengths-based approaches in research and practice to support the health, development, and wellbeing of children and adolescents in FEH/HI.