Childhood trauma begets substance abuse among adolescents

Adolescents who have experienced childhood trauma such as physical, sexual or psychological abuse and have resorted to misusing substances to cope with the aftermath are more likely to develop problematic substance-use behaviours later in life.

This came to light in a new research study led by the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Department of Psychology. Titled “Coping motives as a mediator of the relationship between child maltreatment and substance use problems in South African adolescents”, it was published recently in Child Abuse & Neglect – an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed social science journal that focuses on child protection.

The study was led by Ayesha Assim (a UCT psychology master’s student) and Associate Professor Debbie Kaminer, in partnership with Stellenbosch University and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.

According to past research studies, young adults who have experienced childhood maltreatment are likely to abuse various substances, such as alcohol and drugs, to cope with anxiety, depression and distress.

“Understanding how and why experiences of child abuse result in a higher likelihood of misusing substances is critical for developing early, targeted interventions to improve long-term outcomes for maltreated youth.”

“Understanding how and why experiences of child abuse result in a higher likelihood of misusing substances is critical for developing early, targeted interventions to improve long-term outcomes for maltreated youth,” said Associate Professor Kaminer.

An in-depth study

Assim and Kaminer carried out their research study among adolescents at several schools in Cape Town, and approximately 690 learners between the ages of 13 and 18 participated in the study. The researchers asked participants about their childhood maltreatment experiences, and their alcohol and marijuana use. They also asked them to provide insight into their motives for substance use and into the problematic behaviours that have stemmed from it.

The research study found that 26% of participants used alcohol and 20% used marijuana. Sadly, their history of childhood maltreatment significantly increased the severity of their substance-related challenges. In addition, respondents indicated that they used substances as a coping mechanism to help them deal with past traumatic incidents.

“Adolescents who have suffered abuse are more likely to struggle with feelings of anxiety, depression and distress than other teens. But at the same time, they are less likely to have developed effective coping strategies for dealing with these emotions, due to poor role modelling and lack of emotional responsiveness from parents,” Kaminer said.

“As a result, they are more likely than non-abused adolescents to turn to substances to manage their negative feelings. Unfortunately, using substances to cope is likely to increase problems in living, thereby exacerbating feelings of distress and creating a vicious cycle.”

Develop effective coping mechanisms

Further, the research study found that peer pressure also increased the risk of problematic alcohol use among respondents. However, these numbers were substantially lower compared to the results for those who use it as a coping mechanism.

Kaminer stressed that the implications of these findings extend beyond academic research, and highlight the importance of equipping adolescents with effective coping mechanisms to manage their stress and anxiety. These psychoeducational initiatives are vital to reduce problematic substance use.

“These findings highlight the importance of understanding the underlying motives behind substance use among adolescents who have experienced childhood maltreatment. By identifying coping motives – and to a lesser extent, conformity motives – as key mediators, we can better target interventions that address these psychological drivers,” she said.

“Investing in early intervention programmes could bring long-term health and mental health benefits for the well-being of youth who have suffered maltreatment.”

“Investing in early intervention programmes could bring long-term health and mental health benefits for the well-being of youth who have suffered maltreatment.”