J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.  2016 Sep;27(3):181-187. 10.5765/jkacap.2016.27.3.181.

Depression, Attachment and Addiction Problems in Runaway Youths

• Ko M
• Hong M
• Kim YE
• Ha J
• Lee SM
• Kim HS

• KMID: 2358031
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5765/jkacap.2016.27.3.181

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study investigated the relationship between depression, attachment and addiction problems in runaway youths.
METHODS
We sent a questionnaire package to 187 runaway youths in 18 adolescent shelters. The questionnaire package collected their sociodemographic data and included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Inventory of Parent Attachment (IPA), Korean Internet Addiction Self-Scale (K-Scale), Korean version of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and Korean version of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence.
RESULTS
The percentage of youth with depression was 28.8% (N=54). In the depression group, there were significantly more problematic alcohol users (53.06%, p=.0199) and significantly lower IPA scores (p=.0064). There was a significant negative correlation between depression and a IPA, and significant positive correlation between depression and the K-Scale.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that runaway youths with depression have more problematic alcohol drinking and attachment problems.

Keyword

Depression; Runaway; Addiction; Parent Attachment

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Alcohol Drinking
Child
Depression*
Homeless Youth*
Humans
Internet
Parents
Tobacco Use Disorder