Psychosocial Strengths and Resilience Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Youth (ages 13-25) who identify as sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) are at elevated risk for becoming homeless and for worsening psychosocial and physical health while experiencing homelessness. Although the risks for this group are clear, relatively little is known about the internal assets and external resources that foster resilience. In this scoping review, we synthesized existing research on SGM youth experiencing homelessness using the Resilience Portfolio model. We searched PsycINFO, PubMed, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and Social Science Citation Index, locating 41 empirical articles on psychosocial strengths and resilience among this population. Through a careful data extraction process, we identified strengths across all three Resilience Portfolio domains. Important regulatory strengths for SGM youth experiencing homelessness included psychological endurance, self-efficacy, and psychological acceptance. Among interpersonal strengths, the most widely endorsed source of social support was identity-affirming "chosen families." Informal informational networks and tailored comprehensive services were key resources among youth's broader social ecologies. Youth cultivated meaning by expressing authentic identities, maintaining hope, resisting oppression, and defining their own beliefs. Overall, the existing research base primarily consists of small qualitative studies. Existing quantitative studies suffered from several methodological limitations, such as cross-sectional analyses and poor measurement of resilience. We discuss several implications for future research, particularly a need for larger-scale, longitudinal studies measuring multiple strengths and their associations with resilient outcomes. We also make recommendations for practice and policy, including youth-serving programs, child welfare system reform, and broader socioeconomic changes needed to end homelessness.