It's Called "Going Out to Play": A Video Diary Study of Hmong Girls' Perspectives on Running Away

How do Hmong immigrant adolescent girls decide to run away, return home, leave again, or stay home? Video diaries by 11 sexually exploited runaway Hmong girls, ages 13-16, revealed four themes: "fighting restrictions," or resisting family and cultural expectations and desires to be like other American teens; "not running away, going out to play," which captured impulsive decision making; "unrestrained partying," which described runaway experiences but minimized the dangers faced; and "trying to change," or returning home because of family bonds and wanting to "be someone good." Given their limited ability to anticipate risks, interventions should focus on runaway prevention initiatives for Hmong families and teens.