Runaway Youth at the Time of Their Disappearance

Abstract

In this chapter, the experiences of children and adolescents who run away from home or become homeless are described. This chapter examines why youth who are disconnected from their family, peers, and classmates and teachers may be at increased risk of running away from home. This chapter evaluates the extent to which child sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and neglect, domestic violence, school difficulties, and peer problems are determinants of running away from home. Findings from self-report narratives and the Runaway Youth Project (RYP), which is based on a random sample of 200 missing persons reports, are used to describe the demographic, social, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of runaway and homeless children and adolescents. This chapter highlights risk factors such as socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, conduct disorder, sexual orientation, sexual and physical abuse and neglect, and family dysfunction that may increase the probability that young people will run away or become homeless. In this chapter, characteristics of the runaway episode such as duration, season, and travel patterns are evaluated. This chapter also analyzes the risks that runaway and homeless youth face for becoming victims of human trafficking, rape, assault and battery, sexually transmitted infections, developing suicidal behaviors, substance abuse problems, and other psychosocial and physical health problems. In this chapter, the criminal history of runaway youth is discussed.