Revitalizing Profiles of Runaways: A Latent Class Analysis of Delinquent Runaway Youth
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Revitalizing Profiles of Runaways: A Latent Class Analysis of Delinquent Runaway Youth Michelle N. Jeanis1 · Bryanna H. Fox2,3 · Caitlyn N. Muniz2
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract Many runaway youth experience an overabundance of negative life events before, during, and after running away from caregivers. In order to better understand, prevent, and treat adolescent runaways based upon the unique experiences they endure, researchers have created typologies of runaway youth. Building on previous research, this study developed a statistical typology of runaway youth offenders using a sample of 29,204 runaway youth referred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Based upon key predictors and features of adolescent runaways including abuse, trauma, antisocial peers, delinquency, mental illness, school problems, and more, a series of latent class analysis models indicate that five sub-types of runaways exist within three larger behavioral/feature domains. These results suggest that runaways are a heterogeneous group with highly unique experiences and risk factors that occur before and after the runaway experience. In addition, grouping of runaways based solely upon motivation, individual characteristics, victimization, or offending is too narrow of a perspective. Keywords Runaways · Latent class analysis · Typology · Profile · Youth offenders A runaway event is defined as an individual under the age of 18 leaving the home without the permission of a caregiver for at least one night (Hammer, Finkelhor, & Sedlak, 2002). Among American youth, runaway behavior is unsettlingly common, with research estimating that 10% of girls and 7% of boys will run away from home each year (Benoit-Bryan, 2011; Chen, Thrane, & Adams, 2012; Sanchez, Waller, & Greene, 2006), and one out of every seven children run away from home at least once during adolescence (Hammer et al., 2002). Prior studies suggest that the average runaway youth is 14–16 years of age; however, determining the average * Michelle N. Jeanis [email protected] Bryanna H. Fox [email protected] Caitlyn N. Muniz [email protected] 1
Department of Criminal Justice, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 1411 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
2
Department of Criminology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, SOC 107, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
3
Department of Criminology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, SOC 107, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
runaway youth based upon race/ethnicity is not as clear (Baker, McKay, Lynn, Schlange, & Auville, 2003; BenoitBryan, 2011). Some studies suggest higher prevalence rates of Hispanic and Black youth running from caregivers, compared to White youth; however, these findings are not consistent across studies (Benoit-Bryan, 2011; Greene, Ennett, & Ringwalt, 1997). Official statistics indicate that running away is more common for girls versus boys, with girls reporting higher rates of abuse (especially sexual abuse) in the home as a motivator for runnin
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