Date of Conferral

11-4-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Julie Lindahl Ph.D.

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury during childhood and adolescence is a significant social problem and is particularly damaging to long term cognitive and mental health. Major growth and maturation occur within the brain from age 6 months to 25 years and any interruption to this process can be detrimental to long term cognitive and emotional adjustment. Research has shown that pediatric traumatic brain injury can cause aggression, agitation, mood disorder, and socially inappropriate behavior. However, the study of how sustaining a traumatic brain injury during the time of pediatric development could potentially affect future sexually inappropriate behavior has not been explored. This archival study included 58 participants who had sustained a pediatric traumatic brain injury (between ages 2 and 20). The independent variables (IV) were diagnosis of pediatric traumatic brain injury. The dependent variables (DV) in this study were age of participant at the time of injury, severity of the injury, location of injury within the brain, and presence of criminal record positive for sexual criminal offense. Multiple regression was used to determine if any of the dependent variables had an effect of the likelihood of sexual criminal offense as an adult. The severity of the brain injury was found scientifically significant within the data as a possible predictor of future criminal or sexual criminal behaviors. It is an important psychosocial issue to determine the potential effects that pediatric traumatic brain injury may have on adult behaviors such as sexual criminal conduct. The results of this study can contribute to positive social change by helping mitigate behaviors and form more effective treatment plans to prevent behaviors.

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