Depression, Attachment and Addiction Problems in Runaway Youths

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.