Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: This poster explores the link between personal or ego networks among a Midwestern sample of homeless and runaway youth and different juvenile delinquency scales, including alcohol and drug use. Many of these youth are on the streets because of different forms of abuse (familial, non-familial, physical, sexual, neglect) at home. Thus, the author will explore these associations from a Life-Course Theoretical perspective. Multivariate, Log Linear, and if necessary, multi-level or latent class analyses will be conducted to adequately measure these associations. Preliminary investigations show that youth whose networks are relatively stable over time tend to be networks from home, and those whose networks are unstable over time tend to be networks from the street. In addition, those youth who continue to look to home for emotional and instrumental needs are less likely to engage in delinquent behaviors. This is consistent with the Life-Course perspective.