Talking about trauma: A systematic review of young people's reactions to trauma-focused research

Abstract

Concerns persist about the potential negative impact of asking young people about their trauma experiences in a research context. Previous research on this ethical issue has focused on adult populations, and the limited evidence for young people has limitations. This systematic review synthesised empirical evidence of young people's reactions to trauma-focused research, and associated participant and study characteristics. Eligible studies included young people aged up to 18 years in any setting who were systematically asked about their response to participating in trauma-focused research. Seventeen studies were identified, containing a total of 40,660 participants. Risk of bias was assessed using a bespoke quality assessment tool. Findings revealed higher benefits than costs, suggesting generally positive appraisals of trauma-focused research for young people. Those with a trauma history or symptoms were more vulnerable to costs. Age and gender did not appear to influence costs, but it was unclear how these factors impacted benefits. These findings suggest that young people can safely be asked about their trauma experiences and its impact, but that consideration of trauma history and symptoms is needed. Routinely asking should become part of ethical research design and would contribute to a richer evidence base.