NCJ Number
137835
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 27 Issue: 106 Dated: (Summer 1992) Pages: 387-405
Date Published
1992
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article reports a research study of adolescent girls in distress in the northern region of Israel and identifies appropriate treatment methods by taking into account three central issues: personal factors likely to explain runaway behavior, differences in the motivation of girls, and how better understanding of the causes of running away can indicate directions for treatment.
Abstract
Six hypotheses were tested: (1) there is a negative correlation between the motives of girls who run from home and those who run to something; (2) there is a correlation between age and motives for running away; (3) there is a correlation between motives for running away and period of absence from the home; (4) there is a correlation between motives for running away and its incidence; (5) there is a correlation between behavior type and motives for running away; and (6) the more external the girl's locus of control, the higher her score on the running-from scale. From May through September 1979, 170 adolescent girls in distress in 7 Israeli settlements were treated by the Service for Adolescent Girls in Distress. Of 67 girls interviewed, 34 had run away from home at least once and 33 had not. Girls who had not run away from home were asked to complete a questionnaire that included background data only. Girls who had run away were asked to respond to questions related to running away and to complete two scales investigating motives for running away. Findings indicated that girls who run to something are younger and more impulsive, have an internal locus of control, and have a history of more runaways and longer periods of staying away from home. Girls who run from, on the other hand, are older and more reflective, have an external locus of control, and have a history of fewer runaways and shorter periods away from home. Hypotheses 1, 5, and 6 were supported; hypotheses 3 and 4 were partially supported; and hypothesis 2 was contradicted. Additional research is recommended to explore the findings with a larger population in order to identify the characteristics of adolescent girls with a high propensity to run away and to determine what treatment programs are most effective for each type of runaway behavior. 38 references, 3 tables, and 2 figures (Author abstract modified)