Abstract
Introduction/Significance: A record-high 653,104 people experienced homelessness with 39.3 percent unsheltered in 2023. This is more than a 12.1 percent increase over the 2022. Homelessness is an important societal problem. Mental illness, adverse childhood experiences, and substance use are serious issues among people with homelessness.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of psychological well-being, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and depression among people with homelessness.
Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in Tennessee, USA. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. IRB was approved. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS 28.0 was used to analyze the data. Pearson Correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression were used to examine the research questions.
Results: There were 42 males (70%) and 18 females (30%). The mean age was 46.08 (SD = 12.54, range = 19-71). Most of the diagnoses included Depression (75%), Anxiety (65%), Substance Use (46.7%), PTSD (38.3%), and Mood Disorder (36.7%). The significant predictors for Psychological Well-being were Spiritual Well-being (β = 0.304, p < 0.05) and Positive Personalities (β = 0.373, p < 0.01). The significant predictors for Suicidal Ideation were Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization (β = -0.426, p < 0.001), Emotion-Focused Engagement (β = 0.221, p < 0.05), and Negative Family Interaction (β = 0.252, p < 0.05). The significant predictors for Anxiety were Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization (β = -0.24, p < 0.05), Negative Family Interaction (β = 0.34, p < 0.01), and Positive Personalities (β = -0.28, p < 0.05). The significant predictors for Depression were Negative Family Interaction (β = 0.25, p < 0.05) and Positive Personalities (β = -0.40, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The significant predictors for psychological well-being were spiritual well-being and personality. The significant predictors for suicidal ideation were life satisfaction/self-actualization, emotion-focused engagement, and negative family interaction. Negative family interaction was a significant predictor associated with anxiety and depression. Positive personality was a significant predictor associated with lower anxiety and depression. Life Satisfaction/ Self-actualization was a significant predictor related to lower anxiety.
Notes
References:
Ahmad, F. B., Cisewski, J. A., Rossen, L. M., & Sutton, P. (2024). Provisional drug overdose death counts. National Center for Health Statistics.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
Balasuriya, L., Buelt, E., & Tsai, J. (2020). The Never-Ending Loop: Homelessness, Psychiatric Disorder, and Mortality. Psychiatric Times, 37(5), 12-14.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/never-ending-loop-homelessness-psychiatric-disorder-and-mortality
National Alliance to End Homelessness (2023). Who Experiences Homelessness?
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/who-experiences-homelessness/
Security.org Team (2023). Homelessness in America 2023: Statistics, Analysis, & Trends. https://www.security.org/resources/homeless-statistics/2023/#:~:text=Key%20Findings%3A,experiencing%20chronic%20patterns%20of%20homelessness.
Soucy, D., Janes, M., & Hall, A. (2024). State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition. National Alliance to End Homelessness.
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
Yeh, P. M., Moxham, L., Patterson, C., Antoniou, C., & Liou, J. (2023). The Comparisons of Psychological Well-being, Coping Strategies, and Emotional Problems between Taiwanese and Australian Nursing Students., The Journal of Nursing Research, 31(2), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000543
Yeh, P. M. & Waters, G. (2021). Path Analysis testing the Development of Personality and Psychological Well-being Model. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 43(1), 23-35.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0193945920932559
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Sigma at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Stress and Coping, Ethics, Homelessness, Psychological Well-being, Suicidal Ideation
Recommended Citation
Yeh, Pi-Ming, "The Predictors of Mental Health and Suicidal Ideation Among People with Homelessness" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 50.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/50
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-11-19
The Predictors of Mental Health and Suicidal Ideation Among People with Homelessness
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Introduction/Significance: A record-high 653,104 people experienced homelessness with 39.3 percent unsheltered in 2023. This is more than a 12.1 percent increase over the 2022. Homelessness is an important societal problem. Mental illness, adverse childhood experiences, and substance use are serious issues among people with homelessness.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of psychological well-being, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and depression among people with homelessness.
Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in Tennessee, USA. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. IRB was approved. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS 28.0 was used to analyze the data. Pearson Correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression were used to examine the research questions.
Results: There were 42 males (70%) and 18 females (30%). The mean age was 46.08 (SD = 12.54, range = 19-71). Most of the diagnoses included Depression (75%), Anxiety (65%), Substance Use (46.7%), PTSD (38.3%), and Mood Disorder (36.7%). The significant predictors for Psychological Well-being were Spiritual Well-being (β = 0.304, p < 0.05) and Positive Personalities (β = 0.373, p < 0.01). The significant predictors for Suicidal Ideation were Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization (β = -0.426, p < 0.001), Emotion-Focused Engagement (β = 0.221, p < 0.05), and Negative Family Interaction (β = 0.252, p < 0.05). The significant predictors for Anxiety were Life Satisfaction/ self-actualization (β = -0.24, p < 0.05), Negative Family Interaction (β = 0.34, p < 0.01), and Positive Personalities (β = -0.28, p < 0.05). The significant predictors for Depression were Negative Family Interaction (β = 0.25, p < 0.05) and Positive Personalities (β = -0.40, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The significant predictors for psychological well-being were spiritual well-being and personality. The significant predictors for suicidal ideation were life satisfaction/self-actualization, emotion-focused engagement, and negative family interaction. Negative family interaction was a significant predictor associated with anxiety and depression. Positive personality was a significant predictor associated with lower anxiety and depression. Life Satisfaction/ Self-actualization was a significant predictor related to lower anxiety.
Description
The significant predictors for psychological well-being were spiritual well-being and personality. The significant predictors for suicidal ideation were life satisfaction/self-actualization, emotion-focused engagement, and negative family interaction. Negative family interaction was a significant predictor of anxiety and depression. Positive personality was a significant predictor of lower anxiety and depression. Life Satisfaction/ Self-actualization was a significant predictor of lower anxiety.