Symbolic image of parental connection fostering resilience in a homeless youth.

Bridging the Gap: How Parental Connection Fosters Resilience in Homeless Youth

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Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how strong parent-child relationships can significantly boost internal assets and promote well-being among homeless adolescents."


Homelessness among children in the United States is a significant issue, with nearly 2.5 million children experiencing homelessness, representing 1 in 30 U.S. children. Research consistently demonstrates that homeless youth face numerous challenges, including worse health and well-being compared to their housed peers. These challenges often lead to chronic health conditions and mental health issues, further complicating their development.

The stress associated with homelessness can alter brain architecture and function, affecting learning, cognition, social skills, executive functioning, and emotional self-regulation. These effects go beyond the impacts of poverty, placing homeless youth at a greater risk than impoverished but housed youth. However, despite these complex risks, many homeless youth demonstrate resilience, highlighting their capacity for positive adaptation.

Developmental assets, including internal assets like social competency and positive self-identity, play a crucial role in fostering healthy development and resilience. These assets are essential resources and supports that help young people flourish. Recognizing the importance of these factors, a recent study explored the impact of parental connection on the internal assets of homeless youth, aiming to identify ways to promote health equity and resilience in this vulnerable population.

The Power of Connection: How Parents Can Help

Symbolic image of parental connection fostering resilience in a homeless youth.

The study, using data from a large population-based survey of middle- and high-school aged youth, found that homelessness is associated with lower levels of internal assets. However, a significant finding revealed that having high connectedness with a parent significantly predicted the strength of these assets. This suggests that strong parental relationships can buffer the negative effects of homelessness on a child's internal well-being.

Internal assets, such as social competency and positive self-identity, are vital for guiding young people toward self-regulation and healthy development. These assets include skills and self-perceptions that enable young people to make positive choices and navigate challenges effectively. The study highlights that these internal assets are particularly crucial for vulnerable youth, such as those experiencing homelessness, poverty, violence, or abuse.

  • Promotes Positive Outcomes: Developmental assets promote better health and school functioning.
  • Reduces Risky Behavior: The more developmental assets a young person has, the less likely they are to engage in violence, drug and alcohol use, delinquency, and early sexual intercourse.
  • Buffers Negative Effects: Strong parental relationships provide a sense of self-efficacy, safety, and trust, which promotes self-regulation and the ability to manage stress.
According to the study, youth who feel connected to their parents are more likely to develop the internal resources they need to overcome the adversity of homelessness. While homelessness can negatively impact internal assets, strong parental support can significantly mitigate these effects, offering a pathway to resilience and improved well-being. This highlights the importance of fostering and supporting these connections to help homeless youth thrive.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Relationships for a Brighter Future

This study underscores the urgent need for programs and policies that support and strengthen the relationships between homeless youth and their parents. By fostering positive connections, we can help mitigate the negative impacts of homelessness and promote the development of crucial internal assets. While parental connection is a powerful tool, it is important to recognize that additional supports, such as trauma-informed care, are also needed to fully address the complex challenges faced by homeless adolescents. Ultimately, investing in these relationships and providing comprehensive support can pave the way for improved health equity and brighter futures for our most vulnerable youth.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/children5070096, Alternate LINK

Title: Adolescent Connectedness With Parents Promotes Resilience Among Homeless Youth

Subject: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Journal: Children

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Kristen Kessler, Debanjana Chatterjee, Rebecca Shlafer, Andrew Barnes

Published: 2018-07-16

Everything You Need To Know

1

What are the primary challenges faced by homeless youth?

Homelessness significantly impacts the well-being of youth, often leading to challenges in health, mental health, and overall development. The stress associated with it can alter brain architecture and function. Youth facing this situation are at greater risk than their housed, but impoverished, peers.

2

What are internal assets and why are they important?

Internal assets are crucial skills and self-perceptions that help young people make positive choices and navigate challenges. These include social competency and positive self-identity. They promote better health, school functioning, reduce risky behavior, and help manage stress. In the context of youth experiencing homelessness, these assets are vital for resilience.

3

How does parental connection impact homeless youth?

The research highlights that parental connection is a significant factor in promoting resilience in homeless youth. Strong parental relationships buffer the negative impacts of homelessness on a child's internal well-being. Having high connectedness with a parent significantly predicts the strength of internal assets, which is a pathway to better outcomes and the ability to thrive despite adversity.

4

What are the broader implications of strong parent-child relationships for youth experiencing homelessness?

The implications of strong parent-child relationships are vast. They provide a sense of self-efficacy, safety, and trust, which promotes self-regulation and the ability to manage stress. This connection helps youth develop the internal resources to overcome the adversity of homelessness. Programs and policies supporting these relationships can mitigate the negative impacts of homelessness and promote crucial internal assets, leading to improved health equity and brighter futures.

5

What other types of support are necessary for homeless youth, besides parental connection?

While parental connection is a powerful tool, additional supports are needed. Trauma-informed care is also required to fully address the complex challenges faced by homeless adolescents. Investing in relationships and providing comprehensive support is essential. The research suggests that fostering positive connections can mitigate the negative impacts of homelessness and promote the development of crucial internal assets, leading to improved health equity and brighter futures.

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