FRIDA - A childhood free from violence
Exposure to violence in close relationships during childhood can have both short- and long-term consequences for health and development. Ongoing domestic violence poses a direct risk, while a parent’s past experiences of violence may negatively affect parenting and interaction with the child. Early identification of exposure to violence—both in children and parents—is crucial for promoting children’s positive development and well-being.
Exposure to domestic violence can have serious consequences for children’s physical and mental health. Children who grow up in environments where violence occurs are at risk of being harmed themselves, and a parent’s past experiences of violence may affect their ability to provide the child with security and stability. This project aims to strengthen the work of child healthcare services in identifying and offering support to families where violence in close relationships occurs or has occurred. By developing a structured model, the detection of exposure to violence can be improved, which in turn may contribute to a safer upbringing for children.
The project examines
- Which methods are most effective for identifying domestic violence in child healthcare services?
- How are support interventions managed following the detection of domestic violence, and how can they be further developed within child healthcare?
- What potential differences exist in the ability to detect exposure to violence based on gender or socioeconomic factors?
Status of the project
Findings from a randomized controlled trial are currently analyzed, and prepared for publication. A mapping study and qualitative interviews with child health nurses will be conducted to further explore how structured questions about exposure to violence have been implemented at Children's Healthcare Centres.
Ethics and funding
The project is approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority and funded by FORTE (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare).