Predictors and Motivational Taxonomy of Youth Elopement From Residential Mental Health Placement

This study examined predictors of initial elopement from residential care settings (RCS) in a large sample of youth receiving residential treatment in Hawai‘i (n = 1,261) and analyzed mandated reports from a subsample of elopement events (n = 300) to classify behavioral motivations of eloped youth. Given youth were nested within facilities (k = 16), a multi-level logistic regression was conducted. After controlling for other factors, youth in unlocked facilities diagnosed with disruptive behavior disorders were most likely to elope. Three major elopement motivational categories emerged: peer influence, escape from negative stimuli inside the RCS, and approach toward reinforcing stimuli outside the RCS. Each of these categories was associated with at least one youth characteristic (e.g., gender, diagnosis). Common motivational sub-categories included escape from anger- or frustration-inducing events, desire to use substances, and unspecified peer involvement. Programmatic implications are discussed.