Predictors of Traumatic Symptoms among Runaway Youth

Background:

Significant gains have been achieved in understanding adolescent mental health; however, little is known about the development of trauma-related symptoms among the particularly high-risk group of runaway adolescents. Precocious departure from familial homes is frequently due to family conflict, but exposes these youth to further traumatic events and victimization. To develop knowledge relevant for human service researchers and practitioners, this study 1) examined the extent to which runaway adolescents present symptom domains of traumatic distress, including Post-traumatic Stress, Anxiety, Anger, and Dissociation and 2) evaluated what demographic, family dynamics, victimization exposure, and social support predicted the development of traumatic symptom domains among these adolescents.

Methods:

Responses from quantitative surveys and agency data were collected on 350 youth 12-18 years of age admitted to two emergency youth shelters in New York and Texas. Youth's traumatic distress symptoms were measured across four symptom domains (Posttraumatic Stress, Anxiety, Anger, Dissociation) using the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children. Family functioning, social support, exposure to victimization, and peer interactions were measured. Youth averaged 15 years of age, were predominantly female (56%), Caucasian (42%), had run away an average of 5 times and spent more than 5 days away from home.

Results:

Chi Square and t-tests indicated few significant between-site differences and trauma symptoms similar to national adolescent norms. Traumatic symptom domains were analyzed separately using hierarchical multiple regression. Being male, worrying about family relationships, elevated family conflict, depression/suicidal ideation, sexual concerns and/or violent crime exposure were predictive of greater levels of posttraumatic stress symptomology (F=18.57, p<.001) and accounted for 38.6% of the variance in posttraumatic stress. Decreased familial expression of positive affect, increased worry about family relationships, increased social support from co-workers, sexual concerns and/or violent crime exposure predicted higher anxiety symptoms (F=29.43, p<.001), accounting for 41.6% of the variance in anxiety. Being male, having greater family conflict, social support from street-friends, siblings or faith groups, depression/suicidal ideation and/or sexual concerns were predictive of anger symptoms(F=15.16, p<.001), accounting for 26.1% of the variance. Sexual concerns, depression/suicidal ideation, family conflict, poor communication, and worry about family relationships predicted dissociation symptoms (F=22.06, p<.001), accounting for 36.1% of variance in this symptom domain.

Conclusion/practice Implications:

Findings suggest that runaway youth are intrinsically resilient, developing trauma-related symptoms at rates comparable to other adolescents. Family-related factors appear most prominently associated with trauma symptom domains among youth who have run away from parental homes. For these youth, the experiences leading to and associated with running away likely exacerbate these symptoms. Social workers are the primary service providers for these youth; therefore, they must be trained to identify and target interventions aimed at the unique dynamics that increase risk of adverse trauma reactions among runaway youth. Strengths-based programming that builds on the resilience of runaway youth should target the entire family unit and aim to develop greater cohesion and support within the family. Social workers are in a prime position to improve integration and delivery of effective services for these high-risk youth.