Does childhood sexual abuse increase the risk of homelessness?
Herman 1997 has found: "Lack of care from a parent during childhood sharply increased the likelihood of subsequent homelessness (odds ratio [OR] = 13), as did physical abuse (OR = 16). Sexual abuse during childhood was associated with a nonsignificant trend toward homelessness (OR ="
Davies-Netzlay et.al. 1996 consider "physical and sexual childhood abuse" without mentioning any differences in their summary.
Richie & Johnson 1996 found among incarcerated women "that an association exists between childhood physical and sexual abuse and drug use, suicide attempts, and homelessness in adulthood."
Davies-Netzlay et.al. 1996 have found high comorbidity with severe mental illness. Their study "explores rates of childhood physical and sexual abuse among 120 homeless women with severe mental illness. Correlates of experiencing childhood abuse are considered, including mental health outcomes and when women first become homeless. The prevalence of childhood abuse in this sample of women was substantially higher than among homeless women in general. The experience of childhood abuse was related to increased suicidality, and resulted in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder for some women."
Gary et.al. 1996 about runaway youths
Rotheram-Borus et.al. 1996 consider risky behaviour among runaways.