Family Factors and Runaway Missing Children: A Review of Theories and Research

This paper reviews the research that has investigated the relationship between family factors and runaway incidence of Children. It also examines the prominent theories to understand runaway phenomena. It aims to assist practitioners and policy makers who work with children and families to make evidence informed decisions. Children runaway incidence is a worldwide multidimensional issue which necessitates an immediate response primarily from family system for the best interest of children. Most of the research confirmed children those who runaway from homes are at risk of some form of harm or maltreatment. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, runaway incidence occurs when a child younger than 18 years leaves home without permission of their parents or guardian and who stays away at least overnight. It is estimated that in a total number of 16, 82,900 children fall under runaway episode in unites states. The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children estimated that worldwide at least 8 million children go missing each year. The longer a child or adolescent is missing, the greater the risk they face. Data on missing children put out by the home ministry at Parliament in July 2014 show that over 3.25 lakh children went missing between 2011 and 2014 at an average of nearly 1 lakh children going missing every year. Conversely, this is a miserable condition today for India especially where people traditionally believed children as they are equal to god and internationally which is a well-known country for having very good family system to deliver care and protection obligation to children. This review identified multiple family factors that influence a child to run away from home. This review concludes poor parenting practices of primary caregivers appear to play a major role in the influence of family environment on runaway behaviour of the child.