Time perspective, psychological outcomes, and risky behavior among runaway adolescents

In this study, we compared the time perspectives of runaway and nonrunaway adolescents by examining relationships among time perspective, psychological outcomes, and risky behavior within runaways. Participants included 163 runaway and 581 nonrunaway adolescents who completed a self-report survey. Several dimensions of time perspective were measured including positive and negatives attitudes, orientations, and perceived relationships regarding the past, the present, and the future. Psychological outcomes included optimism, self-esteem, and hope; risky behavior was assessed with a composite scale. Results indicated that runaway adolescents reported less positive and more negative attitudes toward time and perceived time periods as less related than nonrunaways, even after controlling for differences in maternal education and academic achievement. Findings also showed that among runaways, psychological outcomes and risky behavior were associated with time perspective dimensions in expected directions. Results are discussed in light of implications for theory on time perspective and interventions with runaways.