Applied Research in Consulting

Predicting Runaway Behavior in Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Mental Health and Personality Traits

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

malihe khabazi

Assistant Professor of counseling, Sayyed Jamaleddin Asadabadi University,asadabad,iran.

Abstract
Runaway behavior is a multidimensional and growing social problem among adolescents—particularly girls—which stems from the complex interaction of individual, familial, and social factors. The present study aimed to examine the role of personality traits and mental health in the occurrence of runaway behavior among adolescent girls in Shahr-e Kord and to qualitatively explore their lived experiences. Quantitative findings indicated that these girls suffered from higher levels of depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction. Moreover, neuroticism was positively correlated with depression, whereas agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated with mental health. Qualitative analysis of interviews identified four core themes: psychological-emotional collapse, breakdown of supportive relationships, maladaptive personality structure, and resilience. The results demonstrate that runaway behavior emerges from the interaction between individual factors (personality traits and mental health) and familial factors (emotional disconnection). The final model highlights the critical role of enhancing resilience and providing psychological and social support as preventive and rehabilitative strategies.

Keywords

Emotional Instability
Family Conflict
Emotional Detachment
Post- Traumatic Growth
Psychosocial Support

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