Understanding Developmental Pathways of Runaway and Homeless Youth

Originally published in Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 2002, Vol 47(2), 143–145. Reviews Whitbeck and Hoyt's “Nowhere to Grow: Homeless and Runaway Adolescents and their Families” (see record 1999-02882-000). In their book, Whitbeck and Hoyt present the results of their multisite, multistate study of youth homelessness in the Midwest. The purpose of this book is to not only present the research findings, but also to examine the findings within a life course development theoretical framework. The authors propose a risk-amplification model of development that explains risk factors associated with precocious independence among this population. The book also explores the family and social lives of homeless and runaway adolescents, as well the experiences such adolescents face. The authors conclude that only future longitudinal research into factors associated with successful transition into adulthood will provide the information necessary for a more complete understanding of the entire developmental process of runaway youth, both in terms of resiliency and development of adult antisocial behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)