Runaway Youths from Residential Care Centers: The Imbalance Hypothesis of Risk-Taking in Adolescence

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: PS 14 Topic - Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

Runaway episodes are at-risk situations where adolescent may engage in a variety of high-risk behaviors (e.g. substances abuse, delinquency). In addition, the exposure of runaway youths to various risky situations (e.g. frequentation of dangerous places, sexual or physical victimization) is of great concern to families and the authorities in charge. This phenomenon is a priority for Quebec’s youth protection systems since the runaway rate in residential care centers increased by 31% between 2012 and 2016 (INESSS, 2017). The adolescence years represent a developmental period when individuals have a greater propensity for risk-taking. More specifically, sensation seeking is exacerbated, mainly in the presence of peers, but impulse control has not yet reached maturity (Steinberg, 2004). This imbalance between overactivation of sensation seeking and underactivation of impulse control (high impulsivity) may explain high-risk behaviors in adolescence (Jonas and Kochanska, 2018). In order to improve understanding of runaway youth, this study explores if the imbalance hypothesis (as measured by a discrepancy score between sensation seeking and impulsivity; Meisel et al, 2019) is useful to explain high-risk behaviors (alcohol and drug abuse, delinquency, aggressive behaviors) of runaway youths. For this study, 112 male adolescents aged 15-17 years who have run away from their residential care centers at least once are considered. The data used are from protection services files and a series of self-report questionnaires. A two-step hierarchical linear regression was performed with discrepancy score as the dependent variable, runaway frequency in the first-step and other high-risk behaviors in the second-step. The first model was significant F(1, 111) = 4.09 , p = .046) with runaway frequency significantly associated with discrepancy score (t(111) = 2.02, p = .046). The final model was also significant (F(5, 111) = 7.16 , p < .001) with solely aggressive behaviors (t(111) = 2.59, p = .011) and drug abuse (t(111)=- 1.81, p = .073) adding to the model. The imbalance hypothesis of risk-taking in adolescence seems relevant for the runaway youth population. Precisely, this imbalance between sensation seeking and impulsivity is rather related to an overall risky propensity than only runaway propensity. Recommendations for runaway intervention will conclude the presentation.

Authors

• Sophie Couture, Université de Sherbrooke
  Presenting Author

• Catherine Laurier, Université de Sherbrooke
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sebastien Monette, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Denis Lafortune, Université de Montréal
  Non-Presenting Author