Influential Factors in the Empowerment of Runaway Adolescents
AUTHOR : 이상준
INFORMATION : page. 37~51 / 2012 Vol.19 No.1
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study were to uncover the correlation of independence variables and the empowerment
of runaway adolescents, and the relative influences of optimism, the support of friends, the prosocial
characteristics of their peer group, shelter teacher support and participation in shelter programs upon their
empowerment. The sample consisted of 158 runaway adolescents living in 25 mid to long-term youth
shelters. The findings are as follows: First, empowerment was positively correlated with optimism, the
support of friends, the prosocial characteristics of their peer group, shelter teacher support and participation
in shelter programs. Second, among the significant variables, optimism was identified as the variable that
had the most impact on their empowerment. The support of friends, exercised the strongest influence on
this, followed by the prosocial characteristics of their peer group and participation in shelter programs. In
other words, holding more optimistic attitudes towards one’s future, stronger support of friends, the better
prosocial characteristics of their peer group, the higher the level of participation in shelter programs all led
to the improved empowerment of runaway adolescents.