ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to discover the possible role of emotional intelligence in running away from home among female adolescents. 500 females from Mashhad high schools at local areas number 2, 5 and 7 were selected. At first the areas were chosen on cluster sampling and then 2 schools were selected randomly from each cluster. In the next stage the subjects were selected randomly based on their high school speciality and grade being obtained. All subjects completed 3 questionnaires: demographic characteristics, risk of running away from home, and emotional intelligence. Data were analysed by using Pearsonian correlation and stepwise multiple regression with risk of running away among females as dependent variable. Data indicated that negative significant correlation was found between risk of females running away and the respective variables of emotional intelligence, self regard, happiness, reality testing, emotional self-awareness, stress tolerance, flexibility, impulse control, social responsibility and problem solving. The results of regression analysis revealed reality testing, impulse control and happiness as the best predictors. This study shows that emotional intelligence components have meaningful effect on the risk of females' running away from home. Reality testing is the most salient predictor