The Impact of Negative Family Environment and Depression on Running Away From Home Among Korean Adolescents

• Author: Hyunin Baek,Amanda M. Roberts,George E. Higgins,Michael M. Losavio
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567717696719
• Published date: 01 September 2017
• Date: 01 September 2017
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

The Impact of Negative Family

Environment and Depression

on Running Away From Home

Among Korean Adolescents

Hyunin Baek

1

, Amanda M. Roberts

1

,

George E. Higgins

1

, and Michael M. Losavio

1

Abstract

Using general strain theory (GST), this study examines negative stimuli (poor relationship with

family, parental child abuse, and poor parenting), with the mediating effect of negative emotion

(depression), on the deviant behavior of running away from home. The current study used data from

a 2009 Korean survey of 9,750 adolescent students in a structural equation model, to examine the

possible mediating role of negative emotions. The research results showed that a poor relationship

with family and parental abuse increases the level of depression. Also, the level of depression that

was experienced by juveniles influenced the likelihood of running away from home. Therefore, this

study supported the GST hypothesis of negative stimuli impacting juvenile delinquency with a

mediating effect of negative emotion. This study suggests that it is important to remove negative

stimuli in the family environment to reduce depression and running away from home.

Keywords

running away from home, general strain theory, parental child abuse, poor relationship with family,

depression

National surveys suggested that 6–7%of adolescents run away from home in the United States

(Sanchez, Waller, & Greene, 2006; Tyler& Bersani, 2008). In Korea, thisnumber was higher, 11%of

middle- and highschool students in a report producedby the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,

had run away from home at least once (Im, Baek, Kim, Hwang, & Ahn, 2014). Most runaways rarely

stayed away from home for longperiods, many stayed within 50 miles of home (Hammer, Finkelhor,

& Sedlak, 2002), and had not been found to be a serious problem or harmful to the community

(Y. Kim, Bang, & Park, 2006).Further, most eventually returnedto their parents or guardian (Milburn

et al., 2007). Yetwhile they were away from home, runawayjuveniles were victimized and exposedto

dangerous circumstances, and for some youths, returning home was not an option.

1

University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

Corresponding Author:

Hyunin Baek, University of Louisville, 2311 S. 3rd street, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.

Email: gusdls2141@gmail.com

International CriminalJustice Review

2017, Vol. 27(3) 188-202

ª2017 Georgia State University

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DOI: 10.1177/1057567717696719

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