Study of fifteen runaway patients.
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Adolescent↗
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Results for “Runaway Behavior”
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Physical and sexual abuse in runaway youths.
This paper examines the extent of physical and sexual abuse among runaway youths and the association of that abuse with behavior, mental health, life events, and parental mental health. Of 291 youths who sought shelter at homes for runaway youths, almost half (141) reported a history of physical or sexual abuse. The results emphasize the need that these abused youths and their parents have for mental health services: One in five of the nonabused youths and one in three of the abused youths endorsed parental descriptions reflective of antisocial personality and/or drug problems, and runaways who were abused had a mean level of behavior problems in the clinically significant area. Multivariate analyses demonstrate that the simple existence of physical or sexual abuse impacts on self-esteem and overall behavior problems regardless of other family problems.
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What makes adolescent girls flee from their homes? An analysis of 50 such girls studied at Boston Juvenile Court.
Fifty girls who were arrested in Boston on a charge of running away and their parents were studied via psychiatric interviews, rating schedules and psychotherapeutic data. There was an absence of psychosis and mental retardation in this group. A diversity of factors leading to running away episodes were elicited. Sexual factors were common. Family disturbances were usually found, reflecting in part the urban areas from which this group came. The girls showed a remarkable uniformity of behavior while on the run. Treatment of the whole family was often necessary for success in dealing with the runaway problem. The importance of intervention promptly is demonstrated by the associated self-destructive behavior of the girls, the frequency of severe family disturbances and the later histories of these youngsters.
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The effect of an unlocked door on adolescent runaway and aggression.
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Similarities in drug use and depression among runaway students and street youth.
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Runaway girls in distress: motivation, background, and personality.
This paper deals with girls aged 13 to 21 who have run away from home. Social workers who work with such girls point out that they are not a homogeneous population and that their motives can be very different. This study divides their motives for running away into two types, "running from" and "running to," and describes the specific personality traits associated with each. Findings indicate that girls who "run to" are younger, more impulsive, have an internal locus of control and a history of more runaways and longer periods of staying away from home. Girls who "run from," on the other hand, are older, more reflective, have an external locus of control and a history of fewer runaways and shorter periods away from home.
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Feelings and perceptions of parents of runaways.
The author reports on a study of the points of view of parents of runaways, who are often the neglected dimension of the runaway problem, and draws practice implications from the results of the study.
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A risk profile comparison of runaway and non-runaway youth.
All initial visits (N = 765) to an outpatient medical clinic during calendar year 1985 were analyzed. Six hundred and fifty-five of these visits made by non-runaway youth were compared to 110 visits made by runaways. Based on data from the Childrens Hospital Adolescent Risk Profile Interview, runaway street youth are at greater risk for a wide variety of medical problems and of health-compromising behaviors including suicide and depression, prostitution, and drug use. The implications for public health and social policy are discussed.
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Adolescent runaways in suburbia: a new typology.
Typologies provide a tool for improving diagnosis of runaway proneness among adolescents. Researchers have found several clusters of personal and situational variables which are characteristic of runaways to a much greater extent than nonrunaways. Also highlighted are the results of the author's qualitative research on suburban runaways. The study develops a five-point continuum of parent-youth conflict. This article views the integration of typologies of runaways as an important first step in the development of basic assessment tools for adolescent clients.
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Psychosocial histories, social environment, and HIV risk behaviors of injection and noninjection drug using homeless youths.
Injection drug use is a common risk behavior for HIV infection among homeless, runaway and street youths. However, the psychosocial histories and current social environment of these youths are not well understood. The authors recruited 186 homeless, runaway and street youths using systematic street-based sampling methods, and assessed psychosocial histories, current daily activities, and sexual and drug-related risk behaviors using qualitative and quantitative techniques. Youths reported high lifetime rates of injection drug use (45%), recent drug and alcohol use (100%), and current homelessness (84%). Injection drug using youths were more likely than noninjection drug using youths to report traumatic psychosocial histories, including parental substance use and forced institutionalization, use of alcohol and other noninjection drugs, a history of survival sex, and the use of squats or abandoned buildings as shelter. These findings underscore the need for multifaceted service and prevention programs to address the varied needs of these high-risk youths.
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HIV infection among homeless adults and runaway youth, United States, 1989-1992. Field Services Branch.
OBJECTIVES: Homeless persons have an increased risk of HIV infection because of a high prevalence of HIV-related risk behaviors. These include drug use, sexual contact with persons at risk for HIV infection, and the exchange of sex for drugs. The objectives of this investigation were to describe HIV seroprevalence rates in homeless adults and runaway youth. METHODS: In 1989, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began collaboration with state and local health departments to conduct HIV seroprevalence surveys in homeless populations. Unlinked HIV seroprevalence surveys were conducted in 16 sites; 11 provided medical services primarily to homeless adults, and five to runaway youth aged < 25 years. RESULTS: From January 1989 through December 1992, annual surveys were conducted in 16 sites in 14 cities. Site-specific seroprevalence rates ranged from 0-21.1% (median, 3.3%). Among homeless adults in three sites, rates were higher among men who had sex with other men and those who injected drugs than among persons with other risk exposures (28.9 versus 5.3%). In general, rates were higher for heterosexual men than for women and higher among African Americans than whites. In sites providing services to homeless youth, HIV seroprevalence rates ranged from 0-7.3% (median, 2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that HIV infection among homeless adults and runaway youth is an important public health problem. HIV prevention and treatment should be integrated into comprehensive health and medical programs serving homeless populations.
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Adolescents as victims of family violence. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.
Adolescents experience maltreatment at rates equal to or exceeding those of younger children. Recent increases in reported cases of maltreatment have occurred disproportionately among older children and adolescents. However, adolescents are less likely to be reported to child protective services and are more likely to be perceived as responsible for their maltreatment. Adolescent girls are reported as victims more often than boys, especially in sexual abuse. However, boys may be less likely to be identified or reported and often are abused by nonfamily members. Parents of adolescent victims have higher average income and educational levels and are less likely to have a parental history of abuse than parents of younger children. A wide range of serious adolescent risk behaviors is associated with maltreatment. These include increased risk of premature sexual activity, unintended pregnancy, emotional disorders, suicide attempts, eating disorders, alcohol and other drug abuse, and delinquent behavior. Incarcerated youth, homeless or runaway youth, and youth who victimize siblings or assault parents have been shown to have high rates of prior maltreatment. Signs of maltreatment are often ambiguous for adolescents. Screening questions have been effective in prompting self-disclosure of abuse. Adolescents also experience problems in the child welfare system that offers fewer and less appropriate services for this age group. Recommendations are made regarding screening of adolescents for maltreatment, the development of better services for adolescents, research on parenting to prevent maltreatment, and training of school staff to identify and refer victims of maltreatment.
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HIV risk behavior and HIV testing: a comparison of rates and associated factors among homeless and runaway adolescents in two cities.
This study examined differences in self-reported rates and predictors of HIV testing between homeless and runaway youths in San Diego (N = 1,102) and Los Angeles (N = 1,167). Youths aged 13-23 were recruited from agency and street sites using a stratified probability sampling design. Interviewers administered a structured survey instrument lasting 20 minutes, which assessed youths' involvement in HIV risk-related sexual and drug-use behaviors, contact with outreach workers, and other variables. Significantly more Los Angeles youths (78%) reported testing than did San Diego youths (52%; p < .001). Multivariable analyses controlling for risk behaviors, knowing someone with HIV, and contact with outreach workers indicated that the higher rates of these factors in Los Angeles did not account for the difference in testing rates between the cities. Youths in Los Angeles were still 1.85 times as likely to be tested as San Diego youths (p < .001), possibly a result of differing normative behavior and accessibility of testing services.
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Why do some boys run away from home?
OBJECTIVE: Insufficient research has been done to look for the factors compelling children to make street, their home. The study was conducted at a Child Observation Home to which street children from all over Delhi, are brought. METHODS: Each boy admitted during the specified 6 months period was interviewed. Chi2 and Fisher's test were applied. A total of 400 boys were studied, 9.8% of these had not run away from their homes and 89.2% were "Runaways". These two groups were compared and following factors were found associated with the "Runaway" group. RESULT: Majority (55%) had left home between 10-12 year of age. They were more from "Joint" families. A higher percentage had literate fathers. A higher percentage had no parent earning and a higher proportion of "Not Runaways" had only the mother earning. Presence of a step parent, guardian other than the parents and intra-familial physical abuse were found associated with "Runaway" group. CONCLUSION: The most common reason for running away was; beating by parents/relatives, followed by a desire for economic independence (28.5%). Other reasons were maltreatment by step parent/s, being both parents dead argument with parent etc. The factors emerging can be useful for identifying high-risk families with children in pre adolescent age and hence for prevention and rehabilitation.
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Violence in families of adolescent runaways.
Adolescents who run away from home frequently give many reasons for their behavior, but rarely has an examination of physical maltreatment as a precipitating factor for leaving home been carefully conducted. The Conflict Tactics Scale, a measure of how families resolve conflicts, was completed by 199 adolescents who ran away to a youth shelter. Some 78% of the adolescents self-reported significant physical violence directed toward themselves by a parent in the one year prior to their running away. There were no significant effects of age or sex on the amount of physical violence. A comparison between runaway adolescents and adolescents labeled abused reveals no significant differences in at-risk child abuse scores. An argument is presented for crisis counselors and youth shelter workers to more carefully examine and treat family violence in adolescents who run.
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A sample of homeless and runaway youth in New Jersey and their health status.
In this study of homeless and runaway young people served by youth shelters in New Jersey mental health problems were predominant. They include anxiety, depression, suicide attempts, drug and alcohol abuse. The sample exhibited high levels of general behavioral problems and school and/or peer problems. One quarter of the sample had had trouble with the law. About two thirds of the sample were homeless rather than runaway. For a similar proportion of the sample this was a repeat experience and/or had lasted a week or more. Only one third were able to be reunited with their families after being served. The prognosis for these youth is poor without specific programs to protect them and their physical and mental health.
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HEADSS, a psychosocial risk assessment instrument: implications for designing effective intervention programs for runaway youth.
In this article, we present data obtained with the psychosocial interview instrument, HEADSS (Home, Education, Activities, Drug use and abuse, Sexual behavior, Suicidality and depression) that was administered to High Risk Youth Clinic clients at their initial visits during a 1-year period. Of the 1,015 new patients, 63% were homeless/runaway youths and 37% were living with their families. Utilizing the HEADSS interview instrument, we compared homeless/runaway youths to nonhomeless youths in a number of areas, including risks for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Our results showed that homeless teens tended to be younger, female, and white compared to their nonhomeless counterparts. They were more likely to have dropped out of school and were far more likely to be depressed and actively suicidal. They demonstrated all forms of drug abuse. They engaged in first sexual intercourse at an earlier age, and experienced a higher incidence of sexual abuse and prostitution. They were 6 times more likely to be at risk for HIV infection.
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