Childhood out-of-home care and current depressive symptoms among homeless adults

Previous research indicates that adverse childhood experiences are associated with depression during adulthood under conditions of social stress. This relationship was examined in a large sample of homeless adults (n = 1849). Subjects with evidence of severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia were excluded. Those with out-of-home care (e.g., foster, group, or institutional care) during childhood were significantly more likely than those without such care to report current severe depressive symptoms (CES-D score greater than or equal to 30). The finding, which held up in multivariate analysis when potential confounders were statistically controlled, supports the theory that certain developmental experiences are risk factors for subsequent depressive symptoms.