published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

<p>Aim:The study's aim is to examine whether and to what extent elementary school pupils aged 13 and 16 report that they ever have been forced to leave home by parents, have run away from home voluntarily or have seriously considered doing so. The aim is also to illuminate which circumstances contribute to these break-ups. Method: A quantitative approach is used; a survey material consisting of 1193 questionnaires is analysed. The data material has been used in earlier studies but the issue addressed here has not been studied earlier. The circumstances analysed are gender, ethnicity, the parents’ religious belief and education, living conditions (sharing home with both parents, one of them or none), contacts with professionals (psychologist, school nurse or curator), physical and mental wellbeing, way of upbringing (liberal vs authoritarian) and communication with parents. The findings are compared to a similar study from Great Britain. Results: The results show that 4 percents of the young people have been forced to leave home some time during their life and 9 percent have run away and stayed away for at least 24 hours. The proportion of young people seriously considering leaving home was 22 percents. It is concluded that being forced to leave home has different explanations compared to running away by own decision. It is thus two different phenomena. A few risk factors are identified.</p>

Aim:The study's aim is to examine whether and to what extent elementary school pupils aged 13 and 16 report that they ever have been forced to leave home by parents, have run away from home voluntarily or have seriously considered doing so. The aim is also to illuminate which circumstances contribute to these break-ups. Method: A quantitative approach is used; a survey material consisting of 1193 questionnaires is analysed. The data material has been used in earlier studies but the issue addressed here has not been studied earlier. The circumstances analysed are gender, ethnicity, the parents’ religious belief and education, living conditions (sharing home with both parents, one of them or none), contacts with professionals (psychologist, school nurse or curator), physical and mental wellbeing, way of upbringing (liberal vs authoritarian) and communication with parents. The findings are compared to a similar study from Great Britain. Results: The results show that 4 percents of the young people have been forced to leave home some time during their life and 9 percent have run away and stayed away for at least 24 hours. The proportion of young people seriously considering leaving home was 22 percents. It is concluded that being forced to leave home has different explanations compared to running away by own decision. It is thus two different phenomena. A few risk factors are identified.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston, MA, 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-172).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston, MA, 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-172).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston, MA, 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-172).

Although Turkey is a country with strong social cohesion, figures of runaway children in Turkey are increasing dramatically. This research focused on the factors that cause children to run away and on interaction programs to intervene and/or prevent this problem. Until recently, Turkish family life was able to avoid such problems, but with the effect of westernization and social mobility in Turkey, the basic family structure has become more like the family structure in the western countries. Studies reveal that runaway episodes happen in all families regardless of such factors as economic, race, or geographic situations. Teenagers run away for several reasons; however, early intervention is highly suggested by studies to mitigate the problem. Although, parent-child conflict plays a significant role as a reason for youth leaving home, on the other hand family interaction still remains the best alternative to the problem.

This report is a descriptive analysis of data obtained from the files of girls terminated from treatment at Albertina Kerr Center between January 1st, 1975 and July 1st, 1976. The purpose of the study is to identify factors that contribute to the high runaway rate which plagues the Center, and to offer the agency suggestions for dealing with the growing problem. Our findings suggest that there are two groups of residents who are apt to be prematurely terminated from the program due to running behavior. We have called the first group character disordered children, while the second consists of children who experience extreme separation anxiety when placed in the institution. The report concludes with recommendations for dealing with the identified groups.

It is the purpose of this research project to develop a profile of predictive variables that would be helpful in distinguishing a missing juvenile report of a runaway from that of a missing youth who may have met with "foul play" and who does not fit the pattern of the runaway youth. The usefulness of such a tested set of predictive variables would be in designing a report form to be used by the peace officer who takes the initial report enabling him to immediately identify the situation as one of a runaway indicating one type of follow-up as opposed to a situation involving the possibility of "foul play" which would indicate a totally different investigative procedure and priority of action.