Introduction
One of the essential steps in defining a narrower problem in the selected field is the consideration of previously known information on the matter. For this, it is vital to provide the theoretical orientation for the future study, support it with scholarly sources on teenage trafficking, and critically assess the gap in researchers’ knowledge. Moreover, these measures should be complemented by the statement of findings on the issue, which adds to the necessity to expand the understanding of the present-day situation.
Theoretical Orientation for the Study
The problem of forced labor among teenagers requires special consideration due to the lack of previous research. For this paper, humanistic orientation is employed since the personal values of victims and their attitude towards the help they need take the central place in the study. The theory applicable to the research topic is the conflict theory since it analyzes oppression and power structures (Crossman, 2019). As for the research method, it is explicitly described by the rational choice theory that reflects one’s motivation in receiving help (Crossman, 2019). In the study, the key concepts under consideration are the human trafficking of adolescents and forced labor. This way, a strategy allowing the victims of teenage trafficking will be based on the previous research.
The seminal works of scholars significantly affected the issue’s formulation and were focused on the treatment and assistance for the survivors. Such global tasks contained the consideration of the most common psychological symptoms accompanying the process. They included depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and its complex version (Hopper & Gonzalez, 2018). Nevertheless, there was no division into the victims of sex and labor trafficking, and this fact explains the necessity of the current study. The results of this research were complemented by the attempts to examine the negative effect of the victims’ experience after the treatment related to anxiety, disorientation, and other issues (Okech et al., 2018). In this case, the inclusion of the additional factor, the type of human trafficking, will contribute to a better understanding of the problem and develop a solution.
Review of the Literature
The principal theme aimed at considering the issue was presenting the problem of teenage trafficking while emphasizing the lack of evidence-based work. These studies focused on reviewing previously known information on the topic, and this method reflects their research design, which was literature review of scholarly articles (Walts, 2017). The research questions were: What are the types of human trafficking? What are the factors influencing the revival of this practice? (Patterson & Zhuo, 2018) and What efforts can be made to solve the problem? (Walts, 2017). The studies hypothesized and proved that sociologists can solve the issue, and the change in-laws will be efficient as well (Walts, 2017). Therefore, their inclusion in the paper is beneficial for understanding the process and its outcomes from the perspective of victims’ diversity.
The second theme is how the measures taken by medical specialists address the health problems of teenage trafficking survivors, mostly women. Numerous studies were devoted to this initiative, and their research design was the assessment of their conditions, the proposal of methods, and experimental group interventions (Hopper et al., 2018). The research questions were: What problems are typical for this population group? What methods can deal with them? (Hopper, 2017). The hypothesis was that healthcare specialists could affect the outcome of such interventions (Coverdale et al., 2016). The data were received from the hospitals and interviews with patients and processed by comparing experimental groups (Hopper, 2017). In the end, the researchers proved that the intervention of doctors is invaluable in the case of teenage trafficking and allows for addressing the issues ethically.
Synthesis of the Research Findings
The previous studies on teenage trafficking provided a clear picture of the gap existing in the knowledge about the problem. It is apparent that, in the first theme, the researchers were focused on the problem’s formulation rather than its solution. This approach allowed for gathering comprehensive information on the matter and using it in this study. As for the second theme, it was oriented more on the practical implementation of the knowledge. However, it lacked clarity regarding a particular type of teenage trafficking, gender, age, and the division of acquired conditions by the type. This way, the scenario for new research is conducting a detailed study based on the mentioned factors, which will allow for coming to a solution.
Critique of the Previous Methods
The previous studies’ data are beneficial for new research but only in terms of laying the groundwork for it. Their main problem is in the use of methods that are efficient but do not provide precise information on the situation. Thus, for example, experimental interventions based on medical facilities could have been conducted with patients’ division regarding their experience and other factors. This initiative is opposed to the perspective of scholars emphasizing the importance of clarity (Hopper, 2017). As a result, the attempts to address the health issues while not distinguishing women in sex trafficking and men in forced labor did not lead to a solution.
Summary
To sum up, the employment of experimental groups’ division by individual factors is a necessity in this study. It is conditional upon the neglect of them in previous studies reflecting in considering all victims as one group. Hence, a more complex approach will be beneficial for the precision of its outcome. In this way, individual differences and diversity will be addressed efficiently. However, the lack of clarity does not make the selected sources less valuable since they provide an excellent basis for new research. They help to identify the gaps in knowledge and consider this aspect.
References
Coverdale, J., Beresin, E. V., Louie, A. K., Balon, R., & Roberts, L. W. (2016). Human trafficking and psychiatric education: A call to action. Academic Psychiatry, 40(1), 119–123.
Crossman, A. (2019). Major sociological theories. Though Co. Web.
Hopper, E. K. (2017). Trauma-informed psychological assessment of human trafficking survivors. Women & Therapy, 40(1-2), 12–30.
Hopper, E. K., Azar, N., Bhattacharyya, S., Malebranche, D. A., & Brennan, K. E. (2018). STARS experiential group intervention: A complex trauma treatment approach for survivors of human trafficking. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 15(2), 215–241.
Hopper, E. K., & Gonzalez, L. D. (2018). A comparison of psychological symptoms in survivors of sex and labor trafficking. Behavioral Medicine, 44(3), 177–188.
Okech, D., Hansen, N., Howard, W., Anarfi, J. K., & Burns, A. C. (2018). Social support, dysfunctional coping, and community reintegration as predictors of PTSD among human trafficking survivors. Behavioral Medicine, 44(3), 209–218.
Patterson, O., & Zhuo, X. (2018). Modern trafficking, slavery, and other forms of servitude. Annual Review of Sociology, 44, 407–439.
Walts, K. K. (2017). Child labor trafficking in the United States: A hidden crime. Social Inclusion, 5(2), 59–68.