两性色午夜

How Can We Best Support Mothers Experiencing Homelessness?

In January 2022, 582,462 people experienced homelessness in the U.S. on a single night, according to a report from the. Young homeless mothers are particularly vulnerable as they struggle to meet their basic needs and those of their children. They may also suffer from substance use disorders and physical and mental health problems. 

One 两性色午夜 University researcher is working to understand how support services and housing can help single mothers avoid these situations.

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Jing Zhange PhD

Jing Zhang, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences, has been conducting research to test the efficacy of a housing intervention in limiting substance use among young mothers experiencing homelessness.

Zhang鈥檚 research has discovered that some people have early life experiences that may place them at the risk of behaviors such as substance abuse that leads to economic disadvantages.

鈥淢y research focuses on contextual factors associated with people's health and behavioral outcomes,鈥 Zhang said. 鈥淪pecifically how you can prevent or intervene in some of their risky behaviors.鈥 

The findings of Zhang鈥檚 research, recently published in the peer-reviewed , have revealed how supportive services could impact the developmental trajectory of those who participated in the trials in a positive way.

Zhang鈥檚 research was used as part of a trial that demonstrated that mothers showed significant improvement in reduced substance use and increased self-sufficiency over time when given proper supportive services. 

Part of her research showed how mothers who received housing plus supporting services, such as HIV prevention and counseling, act more self-sufficiently, develop confidence in their ability to address the daily hassles of life and prevent an increase in substance abuse. 

After receiving her Ph.D. in human development and family sciences from Virginia Tech, Zhang became involved with the trial. Zhang worked on the trial as a senior research assistant at Ohio State University for the Department of Human Sciences.  

鈥淚t has been a couple of years of researching and working on this trial,鈥 Zhang said. 鈥淢y team and I had multiple projects going on at the same time so we had to be flexible.鈥

The trial was led by Natasha Slesnick, Ph.D., at Ohio State. 

鈥淚 really want my research to help people achieve optimal developmental outcomes,鈥 Zhang said. 鈥淚 think people have a lot of strengths and positive characteristics but sometimes they need a 鈥渟tartup鈥 help to get back on the right track.鈥

For more information about the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs/ldes.

For more information about the trial and its results, visit .

POSTED: Thursday, February 16, 2023 10:50 AM
Updated: Tuesday, February 28, 2023 10:22 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Taylor Haydu, Flash Communications