Violence within the lives of homeless people

Narrative Literature ReviewExperience of victimisation and violence is prevalent within homeless people’s lives, and frequently begins in childhood through the experience of childhood abuse and trauma. The impact of childhood abuse and trauma has been associated directly and indirectly as a pathway into homelessness. Furthermore the psychological impact of childhood abuse and trauma has been linked to victimisation and perpetration of violence within homeless people. Victimisation and perpetration of violence has been predominately researched on homeless adolescents and women, with homeless men significantly under researched. Victimisation and violence is associated with a number of similar factors including childhood abuse, re-victimisation, deviant peers, substance misuse and mental illness. Furthermore, research suggests homeless people frequently have a dual role as both victim and perpetrator. This review discusses these factors, the limitations of the current research, areas for further research and the clinical implications.Empirical PaperThe current study was conducted to further explore the mechanisms surrounding childhood abuse and trauma and its association with aggression in homeless people. Emotion dysregulation has a growing body of research suggesting it has the unifying function to a number of maladaptive behaviours. Research suggests childhood aversive experiences are associated with developing emotion dysregulation difficulties and aggression. This study found that emotion dysregulation significantly mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and trauma, and aggression, within a sample of homeless people. The implications of the findings are discussed with reference to the need for psychological interventions for homeless people and highlights the importance of incorporating emotion regulation strategies within interventions for aggression