Family structure and history of childhood trauma: associations with risk-taking behavior among adolescents in Swaziland
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Date
2020Author
Maepa, Mokoena Patronella
Ntshalintshali, Thobile
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Introduction: Risk-taking and self-harm behavior among adolescent are a global challenge. This study explored family structure and history of childhood trauma and their association with risk-taking and self-harm behaviors among adolescents in Swaziland.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a sample of 470 male and female adolescents were sampled through simple random sampling from selected high schools in Swaziland. They completed a questionnaire assessing family structure, history of childhood trauma, and risk-taking and self-harm behaviors. Analysis of variance and t-test were used to analyze the results.
Results: The findings revealed that family structure significantly influence risk-taking and self-harm behavior among adolescents [F(2, 247) = 5.481; P < 0.004] those from child-headed and single-parent households reported higher risk-taking and self-harm behaviors. The results also revealed adolescents history of childhood trauma to be more risk-takers than those without history of childhood trauma t(468) = 3.409, p < 0.001.
Discussion: Study results suggest that family structure and history of childhood trauma have significant association with adolescents' risk-taking and self-harm behaviors.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/36460https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.563325/full
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.563325
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- Faculty of Health Sciences [2385]