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A Dimensional Model of Psychopathology Among Homeless Adolescents: Suicidality, Internalizing, and Externalizing Disorders

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Abstract

The present study examined associations among dimensions of suicidality and psychopathology in a sample of 428 homeless adolescents (56.3% female). Confirmatory factor analysis results provided support for a three-factor model in which suicidality (measured with lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempts), internalizing disorders (assessed with lifetime diagnoses of major depressive episode and post-traumatic stress disorder), and externalizing disorders (indicated by lifetime diagnoses of conduct disorder, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse) were positively intercorrelated. The findings illustrate the utility of a dimensional approach that integrates suicidality and psychopathology into one model.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to the editor and anonymous reviewers for comments and help on earlier drafts of this paper. The Midwest Longitudinal Study of Homeless Adolescents was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH57110), Les B. Whitbeck, principal investigator.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 311157, Denton, TX, 76203-1157, USA

    Kevin A. Yoder

  2. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Susan L. Longley

  3. Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Les B. Whitbeck & Dan R. Hoyt

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  1. Kevin A. Yoder
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  2. Susan L. Longley
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  3. Les B. Whitbeck
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  4. Dan R. Hoyt
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Correspondence to Kevin A. Yoder.

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Kevin A. Yoder and Susan L. Longley made equal contributions to this paper.

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Yoder, K.A., Longley, S.L., Whitbeck, L.B. et al. A Dimensional Model of Psychopathology Among Homeless Adolescents: Suicidality, Internalizing, and Externalizing Disorders. J Abnorm Child Psychol 36, 95–104 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-007-9163-y

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