Experiences of Family Conflict in Shelter-Residing Runaway Youth: A Phenomenological Study

Family conflict is the most significant factor that causes adolescents to run away from home. This study explored the experiences of family conflict from the perspective of Korean runaway youth. We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study using in-depth interviews with nine female runaway youth. Audio-recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Colaizzi method. We found that the participants had experienced complex family conflicts since early childhood, such as parental conflict and mental health issues, abuse, neglect, lack of parental understanding, and poverty. Participants had negative emotions and coping problems regarding family conflict(s), before leaving home. After running away, they experienced ambivalent feelings, and felt both hatred and compassion towards their parents. Their experiences influenced their thoughts regarding future family relationships. Understanding the viewpoint of runaway youth in terms of family conflict can assist in the development of interventions designed for such youth.