Approximately 90% of people with experience of homelessness report adverse childhood experiences, having far reaching consequences across the life course. Trauma informed approaches have burgeoned in the last decade, however biological understandings, including neurological perspectives of the impact of trauma are typically overlooked with the majority of interventions to support people with experience of homelessness focused on the psychological and relational aspects of trauma. The proposed research takes a biopsychosocial approach to understanding lived experiences of trauma, its impacts, and pathways to recovery. The research (currently in the data analysis stage) takes a realist evaluative synthesis approach combining evidence from the extant literature with qualitative data to better understand experiences of trauma. Interviews were conducted with people with experience of homelessness who have previously engaged with services (n=20), and professionals involved in the delivery of services to support people with experience of homelessness (n=15). Findings from this study will contribute to new understandings of the pathways into and out of homelessness through a biopsychosocial lens, paying specific attention to the role of executive function. Findings will be used to broaden understandings of and practice in trauma informed care through the development of a trauma informed care toolkit, and as a starting point to explore the role of creative health in recovery and support for people experiencing homelessness. Further to this, findings will be disseminated via practice workshops, conferences, and peer reviewed publications.

Microsoft Word - MedSoc Abstract Book 2025 - working doc - abstract book.