Familial backgrounds and risk behaviors of youth with thrownaway experiences

Abstract

Many homeless youth may also be considered “thrownaway” in that they have specifically been told to leave home. In this study, thrownaway experiences among homeless youth are examined in two national samples: (a) a nationally representative sample of youth residing in youth shelters, and (b) a purposive sample of street youth in 10 cities. Prevalence of thrownaway experiences for the total samples and for demographic subgroups is provided, along with comparisons of the familial backgrounds and high-risk behaviors of youth with and without such experiences. In both samples, youth with thrownaway experiences (who constituted nearly half of each sample) were more likely than youth without such experiences to report (a) that they had attempted suicide, used marijuana and other drugs (excluding cocaine), and had been involved in the drug trade and carried hidden weapons; (b) that other family members had used illicit drugs during the 30 days before the youth left home; and (c) that they had spent at least 1 night away from home due to physical and/or emotional abuse or neglect, familial conflict, and familial substance use. Thrownaway youth constitute a particularly vulnerable subpopulation of homeless youth. A greater recognition and understanding of such youth will facilitate design of services that better address their needs.