Thesis:

The Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Personality Traits and Childhood Trauma with Propensity for Risky Behaviors in Adolescents in Sabzevar

This study aimed to determine the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between personality traits and childhood trauma with a tendency to risky behaviors in adolescents in Sabzevar city. The present research design was descriptive-correlational type of structural equations. The statistical population of the study consisted of all adolescents in Sabzevar city, who were studying in the second high school and the academic year 1403-1404. From the statistical population, 263 people were selected and studied through multi-stage cluster random sampling. Adolescent Risk-taking Questionnaires (ARQ), Childhood Trauma (CTQ), Personality Traits (NEO) and Garnevsky Cognitive Emotion Regulation (2001) were used to collect data. After collecting and extracting data, the participants' scores were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, path analysis and multiple regression analysis and using SPSS-26 statistical software. The results of Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that the highest correlation between personality traits and risky behaviors was inversely and significantly (r = -0.471). After that, physical abuse showed a positive and significant relationship with risky behaviors (r = 0.395). The adaptive cognitive emotion regulation component showed a negative and significant relationship with risky behaviors (r = -0.351). Also, the adaptive cognitive emotion regulation component, the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation component, and sexual abuse showed a positive and significant relationship with risky behaviors (r = 0.344 and r = 0.289, respectively). The results of path analysis showed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies play a significant mediating role in the relationship between personality traits and childhood trauma with a tendency to risky behaviors in adolescents in Sabzevar. Also, the regression results showed that adaptive cognitive emotional regulation with a beta coefficient of -0.18 negatively, childhood abuse with a beta coefficient of 0.14, and maladaptive cognitive emotional regulation with a beta coefficient of 0.25 positively predicted high-risk behaviors. This prediction was positive in the neuroticism personality dimension with a beta coefficient of 0.17, the extraversion personality dimension with a beta coefficient of -0.15, the openness to experience personality dimension with a beta coefficient of -0.17, the agreeableness personality dimension with a beta coefficient of -0.17, and the conscientiousness personality dimension with a beta coefficient of -0.24. Considering the role of childhood abuse experience and emotion regulation in the tendency to high-risk behaviors in adolescents, it is suggested that therapists and counselors in schools and social emergency rooms screen adolescents with a history of childhood abuse and high-risk behaviors in order to take appropriate therapeutic measures to reduce their problems.

Keywords: Risky behaviors, childhood trauma, personality traits, cognitive emotion regulation, and adolescents