Article

Influential Factors in the Empowerment of Runaway Adolescents

Author

이상준

Information

pp. 37~51 / 2012 Vol.19 No.1

Abstract

The purpose of this study were to uncover the correlation of independence variables and the empowermentof runaway adolescents, and the relative influences of optimism, the support of friends, the prosocialcharacteristics of their peer group, shelter teacher support and participation in shelter programs upon theirempowerment. The sample consisted of 158 runaway adolescents living in 25 mid to long-term youthshelters. The findings are as follows: First, empowerment was positively correlated with optimism, thesupport of friends, the prosocial characteristics of their peer group, shelter teacher support and participationin shelter programs. Second, among the significant variables, optimism was identified as the variable thathad the most impact on their empowerment. The support of friends, exercised the strongest influence onthis, followed by the prosocial characteristics of their peer group and participation in shelter programs. Inother words, holding more optimistic attitudes towards one’s future, stronger support of friends, the betterprosocial characteristics of their peer group, the higher the level of participation in shelter programs all ledto the improved empowerment of runaway adolescents.

Keywords