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Health Cohort for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Violence and Abuse

How do violence and abuse affect children and adolescents in the long term? The Triple-S study is the first longitudinal health survey in Norway that systematically follows this vulnerable group over time.

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Researcher interview

Through a combination of questionnaires and registry data, the study provides new insights into the long-term consequences of violence and abuse, while also identifying risk factors and protective factors. This methods article describes how the study is designed, how participants are recruited, and what data are collected to answer important questions about health, education, and quality of life.

Original title: Study protocol: the Norwegian Triple-S Cohort Study – establishing a longitudinal health survey of children and adolescents with experiences of maltreatment.
Authors: Viktor Schønning, Anders Dovran, Mari Hysing, Gertrud S. Hafstad, Kristin Stokke, Leif Edvard Aarø, Stian Tobiassen, John Are Bjerge Jonassen, Øystein Vedaa, Børge Sivertsen.
Publication year: 2021.
Journal: BMC Public Health.

Main Findings

Who is recruited? The study includes children and adolescents aged 5–18 years who have stayed at the Stine Sofie Centre, as well as their caregivers. Former participants from the centre are also invited to participate, allowing for long-term follow-up.
Long-term follow-up of a vulnerable group: Participants are followed up every two years to investigate how violence and abuse affect mental and physical health, education, working life, and quality of life over time.
Combination of questionnaire data and registry data: By linking self-reported data with national registries, the study provides unique insight into how this group develops and which factors can contribute to better support and assistance measures.

New knowledge about consequences

The study will provide new and important knowledge about how violence and abuse affect children’s development in the long term. This includes not only mental and physical health, but also how such stressors impact learning and social relationships, among other things. The study will provide important knowledge that can be used to improve both prevention and treatment of children and young people exposed to violence and abuse.

By identifying which factors increase the risk of long-term health problems – and which factors are protective – the study can provide a basis for more targeted intervention measures. The insights can contribute to improved routines in healthcare, strengthened psychosocial follow-up, and the development of tailored measures in schools to help children with challenging experiences. In addition, the study can provide valuable data for policy formulation, enabling decision-makers to develop more effective support schemes for children and families in vulnerable situations. Long-term follow-up also offers a rare opportunity to understand how violence and abuse affect educational and career paths, and can thus contribute to measures that ensure a better transition to adulthood.

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Børge Sivertsen on Triple S

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