An investigation of runaway behaviours of adolescents in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and family functions

This research has been conducted to examine the relationship between run away from home behavior a)-family function b)-socio-demographic characteristics. In the research seven sub-family functions (problem-solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, affective involvement, behaviour control and general functions) of the sample group formed have been examined with The Family Assessment Scale. The Personal Informatıon form has been used for socio-demographic characteristics. According to family assessment functions and social demographic variables ( age, gender, education level, parent education level, parent profession, parent income level, family emigration aspect, expectations from family, suicide attempt, suicide reasons, thoughts about family, acquaintance who run away from home behavior, encounter problems with family, family go about with or not, use of drugs, family use of drugs,birth order, number of siblings) run away from home behavior have been studied whether significantly differentiate (p< .05) or not. The sample group of the research has been formed by 15-18 years old 40 boys and 60 girls who run away from home and 58 girls and 42 boys who don?t run away from home. Totally 200 adolescents form the sample group. As a result; significant differentiation run away from home behavior according to the age, education level, parent education level, parent profession, parent income level, family emigration aspect, expectations from family, suicide attempt, thoughts about family, acquaintance who run away from home behavior, encounter problems with family, family go about with or not, use of drugs, family use of drugs,birth order, number of siblings has been obtained.The results indicated that families of runaway adolescents had more deficits and conflicts in problem solving, communication, rolles, affective responsiveness, affective involvement, behavior control and general functioning when compared to the families of non-runaway adolescents. According to education level of runaway adolescents whose low level of education have high average scores (unhealty) in Affective Involvement dimension. Runaways who use drugs and suicide attempt have whole sub-family functions other than Affective Involvement dimension. Runaways who emigrate have high average scores (unhealty) in problem solving. Runaways who have got 5+ siblings have high average scores (unhealty) in behavior kontrol. Runaways whose family is single have high average scores (unhealty) problem solving, rolles and general functions. Key words: Adolescent, Run away from home, Family Functions