The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adolescent Sexual Health: A Scoping Review

Authors

  • Yuni Fitriya Master of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Dewi Rokhanawati Master of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7895-1362
  • Askuri Master of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5428-4542

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26911/jepublichealth.2025.10.03.05

Abstract

Background: Violence against children is a serious global problem. The United Nations reports that more than one billion children experience violence every year. Childhood trauma resulting from such violence has a significant impact on adolescent sexual health, increasing the risk of early sexual initiation and sexually transmitted infections. This study aimed to identify the nature and scope of available research literature on the impact of childhood trauma on adolescent sexual health.
Subjects and Method: This was a scoping review within the Arkey and O'Maley approach. The framework used in this study employed PCC (population, concept, and context). The population includes adolescents with childhood trauma, the concept focuses on adolescent sexual health, and the context is childhood trauma. The inclusion criteria in this study were primary research articles using English or Indonesian published in the last 10 years (2015 to 2025), full-text articles, and free. Article selection used Rayyan described in the PRISMA Flowchart, and the Critical Appraisal article assessment used Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI).
Results: The results of the study, which included a total of 9 articles, stated that childhood trauma in children can be caused by various forms of violence against children, including physical violence, sexual violence, verbal violence, parental divorce, domestic violence, and neglect. All types of childhood trauma are significantly associated with risky health outcomes such as early sex, unmarital sex, teenage pregnancy, being a teenage parent, consuming illegal drugs and alcohol, and early puberty. Each increase in the type of childhood trauma experiences significantly increases risky sexual health.
Conclusion: Adolescents who have childhood trauma are more at risk of various types of high-risk health behaviors such as early sexual intercourse, casual sex, teenage pregnancy, becoming teenage parents, at risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), early puberty, consuming illegal drugs and alcohol, and committing violence.

Keywords:

Sexual health, trauma, adolescents, childhood

Correspondence

Yuni Fitriya. Master of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta. Jl. Siliwangi No.63, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.  Email: yunfit1102@gmail.com. Mobile: 0857­09­62­1634.

References

Arksey H, O’Malley L (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol. 8(1):19–32. doi: 10.1080/1364557032000119616.

Azri A, Al-Abri K, Al Sawafi A, Jaju S, Al Qadire M (2024). Adverse childhood experiences and risky behaviors in Oman: A cross-sectional study. Prev Med Rep. 44:102809. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102809.

Bellis M, Hughes K, Cresswell K, Ford K (2023). Comparing relationships between single types of adverse childhood experiences and health-related outcomes: a combined primary data study of eight cross-sectional surveys in England and Wales. BMJ Open. 13 (4):e072916. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072916.

De-Schrijver L, Nobels A, Harb J, Nisen L, Roelens K, Vander-Beken T, Vandeviver C, et al. (2022). Victimization of applicants for international protection residing in Belgium: Sexual violence and help-seeking behavior. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 19(19). doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912889.

Ding R, Wen X, He P, Guo C, Luo Y, Song X, Zheng X (2018). Association between childhood and adolescent sexual abuse experiences and high-risk sexual behaviors among Chinese youth. Sex Med. 6(4):273–281. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2018.08.004

Fang L, Chuang D, Reports Y (2016). Adverse childhood experiences, gender, and HIV risk behaviors: Results from a population-based sample. Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335516300493.

Ferrara P, Cammisa I, Zona M, Corsello G, Giardino I, Vural M, Pastore M, et al. (2024). The global issue of violence toward children in the context of war. J Pediatr. 269:114007. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114007.

Flaviano M, Harville EW (2021). Adverse childhood experiences on reproductive plans and adolescent pregnancy in the Gulf Resilience on Women’s Health Cohort. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18(1):1–15.doi:10.3390/ijerph18010165.

Godinez E (2018). Does insecure parental attachment influence teenage unprotected sex?. Sam Houston State University. 35–44.

Hughes K, Bellis M, Hardcastle K, Sethi D, Butchart A, Mikton C, Jones L, et al. (2017). The effect of multiple adverse childhood experiences on health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health. 2(8):e356–e366. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(17)30118-4.

Kim J, Jin M, Jung W, Hahn S, Lee H (2017). Rumination as a mediator between childhood trauma and adulthood depression/anxiety in non-clinical participants. Front Psychol. 8(SEP) :1–11. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01597.

Morrison D, Grove L (2018). Adolescent girls’ experiences with sexual pressure, coercion, and victimization: #MeToo. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 15(3): 225–229. doi:10.1111/wvn.12293.

Musa S, Peek-Asa C, Jovanović N, Selimović E (2018). Association of adverse childhood experiences and health risk behaviors among young adults visiting a regional primary healthcare center, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. PLoS One. 13(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0194439.

Noll JG, Trickett PK, Long JD, Negriff S, Susman EJ, Shalev I, Li JC, et al. (2017). Childhood Sexual Abuse and Early Timing of Puberty. J Adolesc Health. 60(1):65-71.doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.09.008.

Porritt K, Gomersall J, Lockwood C (2014). Study selection and critical appraisal. Am J Nurs. 114(6):47–52.

Scheidell J, Quinn K, McGorray S, Frueh CNN, Cottler LB, Khan MR (2019). Marijuana and cocaine use in adolescence through adulthood. Addiction. 113(1):44–56. doi:10.1111/add.13921.

Tsuyuki K, Al-Alusi N, Campbell C, Murry D, Cimino A, Servin A, Stockman J (2019). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with forced and very early sexual initiation among Black women accessing publicly funded STD clinics in Baltimore, MD. PLoS One. 14(5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0216279.

UNICEF (2024). Kekerasan terhadap anak di dunia capai angka tertinggi sepanjang sejarah. United Nations Children's Fund

Whitten T, Tzoumakis S, Green M, Dean K (2024). Global prevalence of childhood exposure to physical violence within domestic and family relationships in the general population: A systematic review and proportional meta-analysis. Trauma Violence Abuse. 25(2): 1411–1430.doi:10.1177/15248380231179133.

Widiasih R, Susanti R, Mambang Sari C, Hendrawati S (2020). Menyusun protokol penelitian dengan pendekatan SETPRO: Scoping review. J Nurs Care. 3(3) :171–180. doi: 10.24198/jnc.v3i3.28831.

Wood S, Ford K, Madden H, Sharp C, Hughes K, Bellis A (2022). Adverse childhood experiences and their relationship with poor sexual health outcomes: Results from four cross-sectional surveys. Int J Environ Res Public Health.19(14).doi:10.3390/ijerph19148869.

Xia J, Zhu L, Huang H, Fan P, Zhou M, Cai XL, He H (2023). Relationships between childhood trauma and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis. Front Psychiatry. 14(September):1–11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1251473.

Downloads

Published
2025-07-16

Issue
Vol. 10 No. 3 (2025)

Section
flow-chart-line Articles

How to Cite
Fitriya, Y., Rokhanawati, D., & Askuri. (2025). The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adolescent Sexual Health: A Scoping Review. Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health, 10(3), 339–356. https://doi.org/10.26911/jepublichealth.2025.10.03.05