The My Strengths Training for Life™ program: Rationale, logic model, and description of a strengths-based intervention for young people experiencing homelessness

A Feasibility Study of the My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™) Program for Young People Experiencing Homelessness

“…Inspired by the mental skills training interventions that are typically used in sports settings (e.g., [ 14 ]), the My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™) program was developed in collaboration with staff and young people from a large housing service operating in the West Midlands (UK) in a long-term community–academic partnership (>8 years) [ 15 ]. MST4Life™ is part of larger structural action to reduce the many health and social inequalities (e.g., lack of transportation, barriers to accessing mental health support, difficulties obtaining secure and long-term housing) as well as the powerlessness of young people experiencing homelessness in the face of group-based discrimination (e.g., the stigma of homelessness status, the excessive force from and discrimination by law enforcement) [ 5 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The Housing Service (i.e., the charity partner) initiated discussions with sport psychology researchers to explore innovative ways of engaging young service users and aid their transition into independent living, while also creating staff opportunities for continuing professional development.…”

“…Many of the psychological techniques used by athletes (e.g., goal-setting, planning, routines) are transferable to other contexts and could, therefore, support young people experiencing homelessness in achieving certain life goals [ 19 ]. As explained by Cumming et al [ 15 ], many young people experiencing homelessness will have a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that can lead to difficulties in regulating emotions and coping with stressful events. Like athletes, they may benefit from systematically developing mental skills for improving intrapersonal qualities, such as confidence, resilience, and self-regulation, along with interpersonal qualities, such as being able to work in a group and show respect for others, to maximize their potential and cope with ongoing exposure to pressure and stressful situations.…”

“…MST4Life™ is an experiential and strengths-based psychoeducational program intended to promote the use of mental skills in young people, to enable them to build resilience by better self-regulating their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and transferring the use of these skills to other life domains (e.g., education, employment, or training). The long-term outcomes of participating in the program are predicted to be: (a) reducing the likelihood that a young person will present as homeless; (b) improving mental, social, and physical health over the course of their life; and (c) lowering rates of mental illness and mortality (for the rationale, logic model, and description of MST4Life™, see Cumming et al [ 15 ]).…”

“…MST4Life™ was iteratively developed, delivered, and evaluated through action research cycles [ 15 ]. This study describes an important step that was undertaken after the formative work was completed (i.e., a narrative literature review, consultation via focus groups with key stakeholders, including young people) and before the main roll-out occurred [ 15 ].…”

“…MST4Life™ was iteratively developed, delivered, and evaluated through action research cycles [ 15 ]. This study describes an important step that was undertaken after the formative work was completed (i.e., a narrative literature review, consultation via focus groups with key stakeholders, including young people) and before the main roll-out occurred [ 15 ]. Its aim was to establish the feasibility study of engaging young people experiencing homelessness, who are aged 16–24 years old and living in supported accommodation, in a multifaceted intervention with meaningful opportunities to recognize, apply, further develop, and transfer the use of their mental skills into different contexts.…”