A study on the runaway experience of teenagers probated in court

• Main Authors: Hui-Yueh Ho, 何惠月
• Other Authors: Shih-Hsien Kuo
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/64568451293016704799

碩士 === 中國文化大學 === 心理輔導學系 === 101 === Abstract This study aims to explore the experiences of runaway of juveniles on probation, their mental process and its significance and the significance of illegal acts they take during the runaway. It also researches relevant experiences and mental processes of the continuous non-runaway juveniles such as family, interpersonal relationships and life etc., as well as the influences of probation system on the continuous non-runaway of these juveniles and factors contributing to their non-runaway behaviors. Adopting the semi-structured in-depth interviews and qualitative data analysis, the author analyzes the interview materials of five interviewees, with research findings as below: 1. The key motives for the first runaway behaviors of juveniles on probation are mainly the demand for fun and parent-child conflict, while the potential motives are mainly the children trauma and boredom of long-term family life. They show negative psychological emotions before their runaway for the first time. Their interactions and relations with family belong to negative cycle mode, and the parenting styles of most parents are negative and destructive. The motives for continuous runaway behaviors of juveniles on probation include for fun, attractions between friends, negative moods for family, boredom of family life, no one to talk to in the family, rebellion against with parents’ strict upbringing, the thoughts about earning life on one own and escape from the consequence after stealing parents’ money. In addition, some peers of these juveniles offer them with accommodations during their runaway period, making the teenagers easier to run away. Most of these runaway juveniles have suffered the experiences of hurting and being hurt, complex emotions both positive and negative and suspension of studies. Moreover, the parents continue to adopt the negative and destructive parenting styles or ever worse than the times before the runaway, and the interactions between juveniles and families tend to be worse in negative cycle mode. Once the family can satisfy the juveniles’ basic demands and provide sense of safety slightly, they will have the motives of going back home when they require such resources. The ways they return to home are diversified. For the juveniles, their experiences of runaway are equipped with special meanings. 2. The majority of juveniles on probation act illegal behaviors during the runaway, since they tend to contravene the laws due to negative effects of their peers. They commit crimes against property due to libertinism and life required, but they don’t consider whether it is illegal. They are afraid of facing their families once they break the law. The illegal behavior means method to solve their own issues and emotions by themselves for the runaway juveniles. 3. Mostly, when runaway juveniles stop running away, the parenting style of their parents and interactions between them and family change to positive side in terms of family experiences; while with regard to the interpersonal experiences, they also perform positive interpersonal experiences and feelings and are able to consider and select friends. As for the life experiences, they tends to feel and think positively in life. 4. The effects of Probations System of Court on the non-runaway behaviors of juveniles on probation mainly show up in that the interventions like retention, fishing expedition and probation are helpful in improving the parent-child and teacher-student relationships, the self-reflection of the juveniles, runaway behaviors and schooling. 5. With regard to the reasons for non-runaway behaviors of juveniles on probation, it can be concluded that the retention, fishing expedition and probation in probation systems, interventions of probation officers, positive changes in parenting style and interactions, reflections of runaway juveniles, positive effects of peers and the increased home-use entertainment equipments all play effects on their non-runaway behaviors. Keywords: runaway, juvenile on probation, probation system