Mental Health Status and Familial Factors of Runaway Adolescents in Shelter

Abstract

Objectives: There were two objectives in this study 1) to investigate the psychosocial characteristics and mental health status of runaway adolescents, 2) to compare mental health status, family environments (family violence, parental conflict, parental alcohol drinking) by gender. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done on 151 residents of a runaway adolescent shelter. This study was conducted from 12th May to 24th May 2003. Self-rating questionnaire used include demographic data, SCL-90-R, family adaptability cohesion evalua-tion scale III, conflict tactics scales 2 and children of alcoholics screening test. Results: Most participants were single parent, with low education level. Adolescents in shelters scored significantly high on the somatization, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, psychoticism scales on the SCL-90-R. Female adolescent scored significantly higher on the obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility scales on the SCL-90-R. Male adolescents scored significantly higher statistically on the CAST. These results suggest that more systematized and individualized psychiatric intervention is necessary to help them during sheltered living. Conclusion: Runaway adolescent report significant level of psychopathology, family conflict, parental alcohol problem. These results suggest that more systematized, individualized psychiatric approach is necessary to help runaway adolescent in shelter.