RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON TRAUMA IN ADOLESCENCE

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON TRAUMA IN ADOLESCENCE
RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON TRAUMA IN ADOLESCENCE AND RISKY BEHAVIOURS
IN ADULTHOOD
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Topic
The topic chosen for the research proposal is “Trauma in Adolescence and Risky
Behaviours in Adulthood”.
Literature review
Many researches have shown that trauma in childhood can have a likely cause in
initiating risky behaviours in adulthood. One such study by Green and his colleagues (2005),
assessed how individuals who had a history of abuse, sexual assault and other traumatic
behaviours were likely to engage in risky behaviours that were self-destructive (Green et al.,
2005). The study was conducted on participants who had history of traumatic childhood. The
participants were assigned to a no trauma group, a group with those who had unique trauma
history, some who had history of sexual assault, or were still going through abuse (Green et al.,
2005). The results showed that the individuals who were still suffering from abuse showed risky
sexual behaviours, had tendencies towards suicide and had heightened sense of committing
violence though it was found that a single exposure to any kind of violence was enough for
people to show risky behaviours (Green et al., 2005). Many participants showed that such
behaviours were associated with major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (Green et al.,
2005). Another study by Thompson and colleagues (2017) examined how maltreatment of
children that included child sexual abuse can cause them to show alleviated risky behaviours.
The study was conducted on 859 youths who were considered as exhibiting symptoms of high
risky behaviors (Thompson et al., 2017). The results showed that those who went through trauma
showed risky sexual behaviours that included unprotected sex, having more than four partners,
and unassertiveness in sexual refusal (Thompson et al., 2017). These were due to the neglect and
the maltreatment that the individual had to go through in their childhood (Thompson et al.,

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2017). Trauma symptoms were thus important factors in the emergence of risky behaviours.
Hughes, Bean & Harper (2015), conducted another study that investigated how sexual abuse
inflicted on an individual can create psychological and behavioural problems in that individual.
The results showed that trauma in childhood and adolescence led to the person exhibiting risky
sexual behaviours that affected both the individual and the functioning of the family (Hughes,
Bean & Harper, 2015). It reviewed that Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy could
help in the treatment of the individual that used key elements of knowledge, awareness and skills
(Hughes, Bean & Harper, 2015).
Many studies showed how traumatic childhood was a cause for risky behaviours in
individuals however, not many studies have researched about the factors that prevent the victims
of such trauma from developing risky behaviours. One such study was conducted by Nicole
Johnson and Dawn Johnson (2013) that investigated the how the social support protected the
individuals from developing such risky sexual behaviours. Female college students were
assessed on several self-report assessment tools on sexual trauma, social support quality and
quantity, problematic substance abuse and risky sexual behaviours (Johnson & Johnson, 2013).
The results showed that there was a positive relationship between the severity of sexual trauma
and risky sexual behaviour (Johnson & Johnson, 2013). Moreover, such behaviour was
facilitated by the participant’s substance abuse problem. The quality and quantity of social
support acted as a buffer between the relationship of sexual trauma and risky behaviour (Johnson
& Johnson, 2013). Risky behaviours can be reduced in people who have a sense of
belongingness in their close relationships and that aides an individual to be resilient against the
negative consequences due to traumatic childhood experiences (Johnson & Johnson, 2013). A
study conducted by Torgerson, Love & Vennum (2018) investigated the relationship between the

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childhood traumatic experiences and the risky behaviour of alcohol use in adults that was
mediated by status of mental health of a person and his sense of belongingness on 654 adults that
were in the age range of 26 to 40 years old. The results showed that when the participants had a
greater sense of belonging, they showed a greater mental health status and reduced risky alcohol
use (Torgerson, Love & Vennum, 2018). This was indicative of the factor that sense of
belongingness acted as buffer between traumatic childhood experience and risky behaviour of
alcohol use (Torgerson, Love & Vennum, 2018).
The previous studies have investigated the relationship between traumatic childhood and
risky behaviours however, they did not study these traumatic experiences affect boys and girls
differently. Do boys engage in more risky behaviours than girls do or are there no differences in
how the traumatic experience affects the different genders? The current study tries to investigate
the relationship between the childhood trauma experience and the differences in risky behaviour
in boys and girls. It will also look into providing solutions to the various treatments and other
skills that can be used to improve the risky behaviour of the individual.
Research Methodology
The research is being done to investigate the effects of traumatic childhood experiences o
risky behaviour in adulthood, therefore the research uses a correlational design. This design
seeks to measure both the variables to understand the cause and effect relationship. The predictor
is risky behaviour and the criterion is traumatic symptoms. The data will be collected by using
both the primary and the secondary resources. The primary data would include both the
quantitative and qualitative observational data. The quantitative data would include questionnaire
called the “Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)” which is a self-report inventory that has 28
items listed in it (Pennebaker & Susman, 2020). It provides a reliable and valid data for children

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aged 12 and above who have been subject to abuse and neglect. The questionnaire contains five
subscales out of which three assess emotional, physical and sexual abuse while two assess
neglect on emotional and physical levels (Pennebaker & Susman, 2020). The qualitative data
would include interviews of the participants in the research and the questions are provided in the
appendix. These questionnaires would help in understanding the mindset of these adolescents
and help in providing proper solutions. The secondary data would include the analysis of the data
that has already been provided by previous researches conducted by various researchers. The
data will be analysed statistically using the questionnaires and the interview results.
Participants
The sample size of the study would include 50 adolescent participants whose age range
would be in between 13 to 17 years of age. The sample would contain 25 boys and 25 girls from
diverse backgrounds who have suffered through childhood trauma. The adolescents would be
selected randomly from the childcare units who look after such problematic children. To
compensate their time, the participants will be allowed due course credits and some monetary
incentives would also be provided to them.
Research ethics
In carrying out the research, certain research ethics have to be kept in mind as well. It is
important that the identity of the respondents remain anonymous. This helps in building of trust
between the researcher and the participants. The participants have to be assured that the
information that they would provide would be confidential and strictly between the researcher
and them. Since this study is on a sensitive issue, assuring the participants of confidentiality of
information would help them in providing accurate information about their experiences.

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Accuracy of information would thus help in conducting a fair research. It is important to see that
the results are free from any kind of manipulation and manipulation. Plagiarism is a serious
offence that should not be avoided at all costs. The data taken form the sources on previous
researches should be given due credit. Voluntary participation of the individuals should be given
priority. The participants should have the freedom to participate as well as leave the study
whenever they wish to. They should not be bribed or forced into participating in the research
study. Lastly, clarity of questions while carrying out the research is important so that there is no
misunderstanding between the researcher and the participants. All the above points should be
kept in mind while carrying out the research process. The limitations that can hinder the research
can be limited time and money required to carry out the research.
Expected outcome
As the research conducted by Green and his colleagues, (2005) had showed that traumatic
childhood experiences are related to risky behaviours in adolescence, it is expected that this
research will also find similar results. It is expected that the boys will report to be feeling more
anger than the girls are. The boys would show signs of having more risky behaviour than the
girls. Because girls are expected to behave in a certain way according to the societal norms and
rules, the girls would not show as severe signs in risky behaviour at the level in which the boys
would show. The pressure of masculinity and masochism that the boys are needed to show affect
their mentality, which is reflected in their risky behaviours. Another expected outcome from this
result would be that adequate social support and a sense of belonging would improve the risky
behaviour of the individual who has suffered through all the traumatic experiences. Providing of
proper therapy and care would create differences in behaviour. It is expected that the boys would
show hesitation in talking about their feelings however, when they would be effectively

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convinced about the benefits of therapy then they would agree to take therapy in future. It is
expected that in order to have a flourishing career in future, the participants would willingly want
to improve their behaviour.
References
Green, B. L., Krupnick, J. L., Stockton, P., Goodman, L., Corcoran, C., & Petty, R. (2005).
Effects of adolescent trauma exposure on risky behavior in college women. Psychiatry:
Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 68(4), 363-378.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/10.1521/psyc.2005.68.4.363
Thompson, R., Lewis, T., Neilson, E. C., English, D. J., Litrownik, A. J., Margolis, B., . . .
Dubowitz, H. (2017). Child maltreatment and risky sexual behavior: Indirect effects through
trauma symptoms and substance use. Child Maltreatment, 22(1), 69-78.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/10.1177/1077559516674595
Johnson, N. L., & Johnson, D. M. (2013). Factors influencing the relationship between sexual
trauma and risky sexual behavior in college students. Journal of Interpersonal
Violence, 28(11), 2315-2331.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/10.1177/0886260512475318
Torgerson, C. N., Love, H. A., & Vennum, A. (2018). The buffering effect of belonging on the
negative association of childhood trauma with adult mental health and risky alcohol
use. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 88, 44-50.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.02.005

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Hughes, A. A., Bean, R. A., & Harper, J. M. (2015). Sexual abuse and subsequent risky sexual
behaviors: A competency model for treatment of adolescent females. American Journal of
Family Therapy, 43(4), 326-338. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2015.1051897
Pennebaker, J., & Susman, J. (2020). Childhood Trauma Questionnaire | Measurement
Instrument Database for the Social Sciences. Retrieved 6 April 2020, from
https://www.midss.org/content/childhood-trauma-questionnaire

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Appendix
The participants would have to fill out the questionnaire survey for qualitative analysis of the
research study. The survey would be presented in the form of an online questionnaire. There
is no time limit set for filling out the questionnaire. The questions are presented below.
1. What did you feel when you were being physically and emotionally abused?
2. Did you ever retort back when you were being physically and emotionally abused?
3. Did you ever tell somebody whom you trusted about the emotional or physical abuse that
you were suffering from?
4. If you did find someone whom you trusted to tell your problems, what did you feel after
sharing your problems?
5. Did sharing of problems with your trusted ones make you feel in a safe space?
6. Do you believe that the behaviour that you exhibit now is a risky behaviour?
7. Do you believe that it was because of the trauma that you experienced in childhood is a
cause for your risky behaviour in adulthood?
8. How do you think the societal norms determine how boys and girls should behave?
9. Do you believe that your risky behaviour is a result of the influence of such societal
norms and pressures?
10. Do you think that the boys have an added pressure from the society that makes them
show that they are strong even though they might not really want to be that?
11. Do you believe that there is a difference in upbringing of girls and boys that influence
their risky behaviour?
12. How do you think you can improve upon your behaviour?

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13. How do you think such risky behaviour will affect your professional life, if not corrected
now?
14. Do you believe that having a social support would improve your risky behaviour?
15. Would you be willing to take therapy to improve your tendencies of risky behaviour?