INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 11 Program Schedule 02/17/2024 10:45 am - 12:00 pm Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology \| Education/Training \| Professional Practice Issues Final Abstract #102 Neurocognitive Correlates of Resilience in Adults Experiencing Homelessness or Precarious Housing Caitlin Terao, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada Michelle Blumberg, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada Suzanne Mckeag, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada Vicky Stergiopoulos, Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada Stephen Hwang, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada Kristina Gicas, Department of Psychology, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, Canada Category: Assessment/Psychometrics/Methods (Adult) Keyword 1: neurocognition Keyword 2: cognitive functioning Keyword 3: quality of life Objective: Psychological resilience is critical to adults experiencing homelessness given the tremendous stress and adversity faced by this population on an ongoing basis. In adults who experience homelessness, greater resilience is related to better quality of life, community functioning, and social cognition. There are also elevated rates of domain-specific cognitive impairment in this population. Domain-specific neurocognitive functioning is positively associated with resilience in housed populations; however, these relationships have yet to be explored in adults experiencing homelessness. The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between domain-specific neurocognitive functioning and trait-level resilience in a sample of adults who are homeless or precariously housed. Participants and Methods: One hundred and six adults (46.2% female, mean age = 42.9±14.1, range = 19-71) were recruited from shelters in downtown Toronto, word of mouth, and from a contact list of participants from a recent community-based homelessness study who consented to be re-contacted. The primary outcome variable was psychological resilience assessed using the abbreviated Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The key neurocognitive predictor variables were measured using the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery which includes seven subtests measuring vocabulary, processing speed, episodic memory, and various aspects of executive functioning. Psychological distress was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale which is a self-report measure of anxiety and depressive symptomology. Social network size was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale 6-item which is a self-report measure of social engagement. Spearman’s correlations examined the simple relationships between model covariates and resilience. A series of hierarchical regression models explored the contributions of each cognitive subtest to resilience while accounting for gender, education, age, psychological distress, and social network size. Squared partial and semi-partial correlations were calculated for significant models. Results: Higher resilience was significantly related to greater social network size (r = .25, p = .017) and lower psychological distress (r = -.53, p .05). In their respective regression models, higher general vocabulary (β = 0.02, p = .042), higher reading ability (β = 0.03, p = .001), and better processing speed (β = 0.02, p = .020) were significantly related to resilience while controlling for psychological distress and social network size. General vocabulary, reading ability, and processing speed accounted for 5%, 11%, and 6%, respectively, of the variance in resilience while controlling for the influence of model covariates. Conclusions: Better general vocabulary, reading ability, and processing speed were predictive of higher trait-level resilience in adults experiencing homelessness or precarious housing over and above age, education, gender, psychological distress, and social network size. The association of resilience with primarily crystalized versus fluid cognitive abilities is interesting and warrants further investigation. Better delineation of the neurocognitive correlates of resilience could help to identify modifiable targets for interventions that aim to improve quality of life and everyday outcomes in adults experiencing homelessness or precarious housing.

Poster

02/17/2024
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology | Education/Training | Professional Practice Issues

Final Abstract #102

Neurocognitive Correlates of Resilience in Adults Experiencing Homelessness or Precarious Housing

Caitlin Terao, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
Michelle Blumberg, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
Suzanne Mckeag, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
Vicky Stergiopoulos, Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
Stephen Hwang, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Kristina Gicas, Department of Psychology, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, Canada

Category: Assessment/Psychometrics/Methods (Adult)

Keyword 1: neurocognition
Keyword 2: cognitive functioning
Keyword 3: quality of life

Objective:

Psychological resilience is critical to adults experiencing homelessness given the tremendous stress and adversity faced by this population on an ongoing basis. In adults who experience homelessness, greater resilience is related to better quality of life, community functioning, and social cognition. There are also elevated rates of domain-specific cognitive impairment in this population. Domain-specific neurocognitive functioning is positively associated with resilience in housed populations; however, these relationships have yet to be explored in adults experiencing homelessness. The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between domain-specific neurocognitive functioning and trait-level resilience in a sample of adults who are homeless or precariously housed.

Participants and Methods:

One hundred and six adults (46.2% female, mean age = 42.9±14.1, range = 19-71) were recruited from shelters in downtown Toronto, word of mouth, and from a contact list of participants from a recent community-based homelessness study who consented to be re-contacted. The primary outcome variable was psychological resilience assessed using the abbreviated Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The key neurocognitive predictor variables were measured using the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery which includes seven subtests measuring vocabulary, processing speed, episodic memory, and various aspects of executive functioning. Psychological distress was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale which is a self-report measure of anxiety and depressive symptomology. Social network size was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale 6-item which is a self-report measure of social engagement. Spearman’s correlations examined the simple relationships between model covariates and resilience. A series of hierarchical regression models explored the contributions of each cognitive subtest to resilience while accounting for gender, education, age, psychological distress, and social network size. Squared partial and semi-partial correlations were calculated for significant models.

Results:

Higher resilience was significantly related to greater social network size (r = .25, p = .017) and lower psychological distress (r = -.53, p .05). In their respective regression models, higher general vocabulary (β = 0.02, p = .042), higher reading ability (β = 0.03, p = .001), and better processing speed (β = 0.02, p = .020) were significantly related to resilience while controlling for psychological distress and social network size. General vocabulary, reading ability, and processing speed accounted for 5%, 11%, and 6%, respectively, of the variance in resilience while controlling for the influence of model covariates.

Conclusions:

Better general vocabulary, reading ability, and processing speed were predictive of higher trait-level resilience in adults experiencing homelessness or precarious housing over and above age, education, gender, psychological distress, and social network size. The association of resilience with primarily crystalized versus fluid cognitive abilities is interesting and warrants further investigation. Better delineation of the neurocognitive correlates of resilience could help to identify modifiable targets for interventions that aim to improve quality of life and everyday outcomes in adults experiencing homelessness or precarious housing.