CHILDHOOD EMOTIONAL ABUSE, RESILIENCE, & RISKY BEHAVIOR AMONG YOUNG ADULTS: A STUDY OF MALADAPTIVE COPING & PROACTIVE FACTORS

Abstract

This study examined the associations among childhood emotional abuse, resilience, and risky behaviour in a university-based sample of young adults. A total of 210 participants aged 18–25 years (69.52% female, 30.47% male) were recruited using purposive sampling. Standardized instruments—the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Stimulating and Instrumental Risk Questionnaire (S&IRQ), and the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale (DOSPERT)—were administered to assess the study variables. Findings revealed that emotional abuse was significantly associated with increased engagement in risky behaviours, indicating that individuals exposed to higher levels of emotional maltreatment during childhood were more likely to exhibit maladaptive behavioural patterns in young adulthood. In contrast, resilience showed a significant negative association with emotional abuse, suggesting that emotionally maltreated individuals tend to demonstrate reduced capacity to recover and adapt to stress.  Regression analysis further demonstrated that emotional abuse and resilience together significantly predicted risky behaviour outcomes, with emotional abuse emerging as a meaningful predictor of increased risk-taking tendencies. Gender comparisons showed that male participants scored higher on risky behaviours, whereas no meaningful gender differences were observed for emotional abuse or resilience. Overall, the results highlight the persistent effects of childhood emotional abuse on later behavioural and psychological functioning, emphasizing its role in diminishing resilience and increasing vulnerability to risky behaviours.