Risk-Taking Propensity and Sensation Seeking in Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Abstract

Risk-taking propensity and sensation seeking are developmentally meaningful traits for emerging adults, individuals ages 18 to 25 years. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of childhood abuse and neglect, exposure to domestic violence, residing with a substance abusing or mentally ill caregiver, and growing up with an incarcerated family member negatively impact the well-being of emerging adults. However, the specific association between ACEs and risk-taking propensity and sensation seeking has not been previously examined in this age group. This study aims to determine whether ACEs are individually or cumulatively related to risk-taking propensity (assessed by the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale) and sensation seeking (assessed by the Behavior Inhibition System/Behavior Approach System Scales) in a diverse sample of undergraduates, n = 436; Mage = 19.73 years ( SD = 1.83 years); 67% female; 22% Hispanic. Multivariate ordinary least squares regressions were run to examine the association between ACEs and risk-taking propensity and sensation seeking. Individually, emotional abuse predicted greater inhibition ( B = .28, p < .001), growing up with a mentally ill family member ( B = –.12, p < .05) and emotional neglect ( B = –.13, p < .05) predicted reduced motivation to pursue rewarding cues, and emotional neglect ( B = –.12, p < .05) and witnessing domestic violence ( B = –.10, p < .05) predicted less reward responsiveness. No cumulative effects were found. ACEs related to environmental instability may have a unique impact on sensation seeking domains in emerging adults. Clarifying the role of sensation seeking in emerging adults can contribute to better understanding of risk and resilience factors in this vulnerable population.

The effect of state, trait, and situational factors on young men’s coercive condom use resistance.

“…That greater levels of childhood emotional abuse are linked to the development of trait impulsivity and sensation seeking is largely supportive of previous research (Babad et al, 2019;Bornovalova et al, 2008;Braquehais et al, 2010;Shin et al, 2015). The present study replicated these results, showing that men who had experienced more childhood emotional abuse reported greater sexual sensation seeking, which was subsequently associated with state impulsivity, state anxiety, and coercive CUR.…”

“…Because this association is indirect, it is critical to understand potential mediators of the relationship between child abuse and coercive CUR. Prior research suggests that impulsivity and sensation seeking (i.e., the need for novel, complex sensations and experiences accompanied by a willingness to take physical or social risks to obtain such experiences) may mediate this relationship, as they are common trait-level sequelae of childhood emotional abuse (Babad et al, 2019; Bornovalova et al, 2008; Shin et al, 2015). Victims of childhood emotional abuse may engage in sensation seeking as the result of maladaptive coping mechanisms.…”

Childhood Environmental Instability and Social-Emotional Outcomes in Emerging Adults

“…However, this cumulative effect is not observed in all cases. For example, cumulative ACEs are not associated with increased risk for intimate partner violence (Nikulina et al, 2021) or with increased risk-taking and sensation seeking traits (Babad et al, 2019). This suggests that the relationship between cumulative ACEs and adverse outcomes is nuanced.…”

Sensation seeking and adolescent drinking: Do protective behavioral strategies lower risk?

“…Finally, we used a cross‐sectional research design, limiting our ability to determine the direction of the relationships of interest. Although sensation seeking is presumed to be a biologically based personality trait, thus preceding alcohol use, it is possible that sensation seeking can also be an outcome of epigenetic factors such as psychological (Babad et al., 2019; Kerig, 2019) or physical (i.e., head injury; Liebel et al., 2021; O'Jile et al., 2004) trauma. Similarly, some researchers have suggested that similar epigenetic factors are associated with substance misuse (Jones et al., 2021) and that the relationship between epigenetic factors and addiction may be mediated by sensation seeking behavior (Hamilton & Nestler, 2019).…”