Abstract: Same Stress, Different Story: Gendered Coping Pathways to Depression Among Cisgender-Male and Cisgender-Female Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness (Society for Social Work and Research 31st Annual Conference)

Schedule:

Friday, January 22, 2027

Union Station 25 (Hilton San Francisco Union Square)

* noted as presenting author

Joan Wanyama, MSW, Doctoral Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Hsun-Ta Hsu, PhD, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Rainier Masa, PhD, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kimberly Bender, PhD, Philip D. and Eleanor G. Winn Endowed Professor for Children and Youth, University of Denver, CO

Sarah Narendorf, PhD, Associate Professor, New York University, New York, NY

Anamika Barman-Adhikari, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Denver, Denver, CO

Jama Shelton, PhD, Associate Professor, City University of New York, New York, NY

Kristin Ferguson, PhD, Professor, School of Social Work, Arizona Housing Analytics Collaborative, Arizona State University, AZ

Robin Petering, PhD, Researcher, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Diane Santa Maria, DrPH, Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX

Background and Purpose

Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) constantly face homeless-related stresses that elevate their depression risk. Based on stress and coping theory (SCT), studies highlight both avoidance coping and active coping as intervening mechanisms between stress and depression. However, these intervening mechanisms and their association with depression may differ by gender, as cis-male and cis-female YAEH, while exposed to the same stressors, may be coping differently due to social norms and expectations. Research on the moderating role of cisgender identity in the stress-coping-depression pathways among YAEH remains scarce. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to explore such differences with the goal of informing the development of more gender-responsive interventions to reduce depression among YAEH.

Method

This study used a subsample (i.e., cisgender male and cisgender female only; n = 1,189) from a cross-sectional dataset of YAEH aged 18–25, recruited through purposive sampling from seven major U.S. cities. Respondents completed a self-administered anonymous survey covering lived experiences and mental outcomes. Depression severity was measured using the PHQ-9; homeless-related stress was assessed using the Stress on the Streets scale developed by Kidd et al. and validated by Rew et al.; avoidance and active coping were measured using the corresponding subscales of the Coping Scale, validated by Brown et al. Covariates included demographics, adverse childhood experiences. A moderated path analysis was conducted to examine active and avoidance coping as parallel mediators of the stress and depression relationship, with gender moderating the stress-to-coping pathways.

Results

The mean age of YAEH was 20.9 years (SD = 2.1). Cisgender men comprised over 63% of the respondents. Racial minorities (81%) and sexual minorities (25%) were well represented. Gender specifically moderated both stress-to-coping pathways (p = .003). Conditional indirect effects via avoidance coping were significant for both cisgender male YAEH (β = 0.04, 95% CI= 0.03, 0.06) and cisgender female YAEH (β = 0.03, 95% CI= 0.01, 0.04), while the protective active coping pathway was significant for cisgender male respondents only (β = −0.01, 95% CI= −0.02, −0.01). Moderated mediation indices confirmed gender-contingent indirect effects for both pathways (p < .05).

Discussion and Implication

The study findings align with SCT in that avoidance coping serves as a risk mechanism through which homeless-related stress is associated with greater depression severity among both cis-male and cis-female YAEH. However, active coping functions as a protective mechanism only for cis-male YAEH. For both cis-male and cis-female YAEH, depression severity reduction interventions should incorporate strategies to reduce avoidance coping. As for cis-male YAEH, interventions should also foster active coping skills as a protective buffer. Future research should investigate the barriers preventing active coping from serving a similar protective function against depression among cis-female YEAH.

This study also underscores that gender-sensitive analysis enhances the rigor of social work research by systematically examining how cisgender identity shapes risk exposure, stress responses, and help-seeking patterns. This approach strengthens methodological precision and ensures results are applicable across YAEH populations. Ultimately, it elevates the rigor of social work research while promoting equitable and effective practice.