This study examined the occurrence of psychosocial and behavioral problems in relation to recent experience as a runaway among adolescents recruited from two youth detention centers. The sample included 176 males and 132 females who were interviewed approximately 30 days after being initially detained. Results indicated that recent experience as a runaway was common, especially among females and Caucasians. Moreover, detainees who had recently run away reported more psychosocial and behavioral problems than did those who had not recently run away. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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