The Impact of Trauma-Informed Sports-Based Intervention on Emotion Regulation, Self-Esteem, and Peer Relationships in Adolescents With Substance Use Disorder

The Impact of Trauma-Informed Sports-Based Intervention on Emotion Regulation, Self-Esteem, and Peer Relationships in Adolescents With Substance Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of a trauma-informed sports-based intervention on emotion regulation, self-esteem, and peer relationships in adolescents with substance use disorder. The research hypotheses of this study are as follows: 1. Adolescents with substance use disorder who receive the trauma-informed sports-based intervention will exhibit statistically higher emotion regulation skills compared to those in the control group. 2. Adolescents with substance use disorder who receive the trauma-informed sports-based intervention will exhibit statistically higher levels of self-esteem compared to those in the control group. 3. Adolescents with substance use disorder who receive the trauma-informed sports-based intervention will exhibit statistically improved peer relationships compared to those in the control group. The study hypothesizes that participation in a trauma-informed sports-based intervention will lead to enhancement on emotion regulation, self-esteem, and peer relationships in adolescents with substance use disorder. Researchers were compared the trauma-informed sports-based intervention to a control group (no intervention) to see if the trauma-informed sports-based intervention works on femotion regulation, self-esteem, and peer relationships in adolescents with substance use disorder. Intervention group participants were:

attended the trauma-informed sports-based intervention, 8-week period, with sessions held five days a week, consisting of three days of psychoeducation and two days of sports-based practice, each lasting 45-60 minutes, at a municipally affiliated Child and Adolescent Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Center (ÇEMATEM).

The study was conducted with adolescents aged 14-18 with substance use disorder in a ÇEMATEM, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 147 adolescents with substance use disorder were included in the study. These individuals were randomly assigned to two groups: intervention and control groups. Pre-test data were collected in a quiet room at the ÇEMATEM by researches between November 15 and 20, 2025 from both the intervention and control groups using the "Personal Information Form", "Emotion Regulation Scale for Adolescents", "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale" and "Peer Relationships Scale" on a self-report basis. The Trauma-Informed Sports-Based Intervention was administered to the intervention group between November 2025 and January 2026 for 8 weeks, five days a week, consisting of three days of psychoeducation and two days of sports-based practice, in sessions lasting 45-60 minutes each. At the end of the Trauma-Informed Sports-Based Intervention, both the intervention and control groups were administered the "Emotion Regulation Scale for Adolescents", "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale" and "Peer Relationships Scale" as a post-test on January, 2026. The control group received no intervention during the 8-week program.

Inclusion Criteria were:

• receiving treatment at ÇEMATEM,
• aged 14-18 years,
• diagnosed with substance use disorder,
• scoring ≤54 on the emotion regulation scale,
• having sufficient cognitive capacity for communication,
• willingness to participate.

Exclusion Criteria included:

• presence of neurological, sensory, or physical impairments,
• severe psychiatric comorbidities (e.g., psychotic disorders),
• clinical conditions preventing participation.

Participants who missed at least two sessions of the intervention were excluded.