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Running Away From Home: A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Risk Factors and Young Adult Outcomes

Journal of Youth and Adolescence volume 40, pages 507–518 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Little is known about the adolescent risk factors and young adult health-related outcomes associated with running away from home. We examined these correlates of running away using longitudinal data from 4,329 youth (48% female, 85% white) who were followed from Grade 9 to age 21. Nearly 14% of the sample reported running away in the past year at Grade 10 and/or Grade 11. Controlling for demographics and general delinquency, running away from home was predicted by lack of parental support, school disengagement, greater depressive affect, and heavier substance use at Grade 9. In turn, runaways had higher drug dependence scores and more depressive symptoms at age 21 than non-runaways, even after taking these antecedent risk factors into account. Runaway status did not predict alcohol dependence risk at age 21. Results highlight the importance of substance use and depression, both as factors propelling adolescents to run away and as important long-term consequences of running away.

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Affiliations

  1. RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA

    Joan S. Tucker, Maria Orlando Edelen, Phyllis L. Ellickson & David J. Klein

Authors
  1. Joan S. Tucker
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  2. Maria Orlando Edelen
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  3. Phyllis L. Ellickson
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  4. David J. Klein
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joan S. Tucker.

Additional information

The research reported in this article was funded by Grant R01DA11246 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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Tucker, J.S., Edelen, M.O., Ellickson, P.L. et al. Running Away From Home: A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Risk Factors and Young Adult Outcomes. J Youth Adolescence 40, 507–518 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9571-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9571-0

Keywords

  • Runaway
  • Substance abuse
  • Depression
  • Longitudinal