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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Paul A. Toro
Abstract
The present study explored the impact of stress and social support on physical and mental health symptoms among people experiencing homelessness in the Metropolitan Detroit area before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Two types of social support were assessed in this study: structural and functional support. Results indicate that structural support decreased during the pandemic, while functional support was only impacted by significant decrease in sense of belonging. Mental health symptoms and stress were higher in the post-pandemic sample. Additional analysis utilizing hierarchical regression analysis support the hypothesis that stress and structural support predict both physical and mental health symptoms in both the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic samples. Structural support did not predict these outcomes. Two interaction effects between stress and support were noted and discussed in this paper, with results indicating that during high periods of stress, a high degree of social support may be detrimental. Implications in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed, as well as recommendations for future research and policy intervention.
Recommended Citation
Excell, Shaylin, "Social Support As A Predictor Of Health And Mental Health Outcomes Among Homeless Adults Before And After The Covid-19 Pandemic" (2025). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4278.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4278