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Life on the Streets: The Victimization of Runaway and Homeless Adolescents

NCJ Number
125578
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 108-125
Author(s)
L B Whitbeck; R L Simons
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Interviews with 84 runaway adolescents in a midwestern city formed the basis of an analysis of the link between abuse at home and victimization on the streets.
Abstract
The participants included 44 females and 40 males ages 14 to 18. Eighty percent were white; 73 percent had run away three or more times. Findings supported the contention that homeless youth are victimized both at home and on the streets. The aggressive, coercive parenting contributed to their deviant behaviors, including prostitution, the selling of drugs, and the greater risk of victimization on the streets. Results indicated that homeless youths in smaller urban areas are at serious risk and that similar processes affect the victimization of males and females. Tables, figures, and 26 references.

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