Technology Use among Emerging Adult Homeless in Two U.S. Cities

Researchers have shown increasing interest in technology use among youths and emerging adults (Bleakley, Merzel, VanDevanter, & Messeri, 2004; Redpath et al., 2006; Valentine & Bernhisel, 2008). However, no research to date examines this issue among emerging adult homeless. As these young people are more difficult to engage in services (Ensign & Bell, 2004; Hudson, Nyamathi, & Sweat, 2008) and have higher rates of mental illness (Merscham, Van Leeuwen, & McGuire, 2009) and substance abuse (Barczyk & Thompson, 2008) than the general population, using technology may provide a novel means to approach them. This exploratory study sought to answer two questions: (1) How often, where, and for what purpose do emerging adult homeless use technology? (2) What risk factors (for example, transience, mental illness, addiction) predict technology use? Using purposive sampling, we recruited 100 emerging adult homeless from Denver (n = 50) and Los Angeles (n = 50) from shelters, drop-in centers, and street outreach (Bender, Ferguson, Thompson, Komlo, & Pollio, 2010; Ferguson, Bender, Thompson, Xie, & Pollio, 2011; Ferguson, Jun, Bender, Thompson, & Pollio, 2010; Sheehan et al., 1998; Thompson, Jun, Bender, Ferguson, & Pollio, 2010). To meet inclusion criteria, participants needed to be in the age range of 18 to 24 years, have spent at least two weeks away from home in the previous month, and provide written informed consent. Wherever possible, agency case managers made the determination whether a particular individual was eligible for recruitment on the basis of personal knowledge of the individual and the individual's current state of sobriety. In cases of key informant referral, the interviewer made the determination.