TY - JOUR
T1 - Health risk factors in American Indian and non-hispanic white homeless adults
AU - Cole, Ashley B.
AU - Hébert, Emily T.
AU - Reitzel, Lorraine R.
AU - Carroll, Dana M.
AU - Businelle, Michael S.
N1 - Funding Information:
Support for this research and manuscript preparation came from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (grant 092-016-0002) with support from the National Cancer Institute (grant P30CA225520) and the University of Houston (institutional funds).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 PNG Publications. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - Objectives: American Indians (AIs) are over-represented among homeless populations, but are understudied regarding their unique risk and resilience factors relative to non-Hispanic white (NHW) adults experiencing homelessness. In the current study, we aimed to address this gap. Methods: We recruited participants (108 AIs and 307 NHWs) from 6 homeless serving agencies in Oklahoma City, OK. Participants completed standard assessments of health, health behaviors, including alcohol and drug use, readiness to change endorsed health behaviors (eg, unsafe sex, fruit and vegetable intake, happiness with weight, physical activity), sleep location and quality, personal victimization, and discrimination. Results: Compared to NHWs, AIs endorsed greater alcohol use problems and were more likely to report having been arrested/booked for disorderly conduct or public drunkenness; however, AIs were less likely to report smoking cigarettes and reported greater readiness to change unsafe/unprotected sexual behaviors. Furthermore, compared to NHWs, AIs reported experiencing greater discrimination and were more likely to report sleeping outside or on the streets, versus in shelters; however, AIs reported fewer days of inadequate sleep. Conclusions: Findings suggest AI-specific risk and resilience factors for homelessness. This information can aid in treatment, service, and housing planning for this understudied group who experiences some of the greatest health disparities.
AB - Objectives: American Indians (AIs) are over-represented among homeless populations, but are understudied regarding their unique risk and resilience factors relative to non-Hispanic white (NHW) adults experiencing homelessness. In the current study, we aimed to address this gap. Methods: We recruited participants (108 AIs and 307 NHWs) from 6 homeless serving agencies in Oklahoma City, OK. Participants completed standard assessments of health, health behaviors, including alcohol and drug use, readiness to change endorsed health behaviors (eg, unsafe sex, fruit and vegetable intake, happiness with weight, physical activity), sleep location and quality, personal victimization, and discrimination. Results: Compared to NHWs, AIs endorsed greater alcohol use problems and were more likely to report having been arrested/booked for disorderly conduct or public drunkenness; however, AIs were less likely to report smoking cigarettes and reported greater readiness to change unsafe/unprotected sexual behaviors. Furthermore, compared to NHWs, AIs reported experiencing greater discrimination and were more likely to report sleeping outside or on the streets, versus in shelters; however, AIs reported fewer days of inadequate sleep. Conclusions: Findings suggest AI-specific risk and resilience factors for homelessness. This information can aid in treatment, service, and housing planning for this understudied group who experiences some of the greatest health disparities.
KW - Alcohol
KW - American Indians
KW - Drug abuse
KW - Health behavior
KW - Homelessness
KW - Mental health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090487722&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5993/AJHB.44.5.7
DO - 10.5993/AJHB.44.5.7
M3 - Article
C2 - 33121581
AN - SCOPUS:85090487722
SN - 1087-3244
VL - 44
SP - 631
EP - 641
JO - American Journal of Health Behavior
JF - American Journal of Health Behavior
IS - 5
ER -