Helping children recover from abuse – new study funded by NSPCC and ESRC

A new King’s College London study investigating resilience and vulnerability to child maltreatment is among four projects awarded funding by the NSPCC and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Led by Dr Andrea Danese and Dr Helen Fisher at King’s, the project will draw on data from an existing study that followed over 2,000 children from birth to age 18 years as part of the E-Risk Study. This new project will identify the factors that make some children more vulnerable to mental and physical health issues after experiencing abuse and neglect. It will aim to help practitioners identify children who need extra support and suggest ways we can help children to become more resilient.

Dr Danese said: ‘We will capitalise on a classic study of child development in order to strengthen the evidence base for clinical screening of maltreated children. We hope the results from this work will assist practitioners to deliver targeted, efficient, and cost-effective interventions.

‘In the UK, research by NSPCC showed that up to 1 in 5 children experience some form of maltreatment. In turn, maltreatment predicts elevated risk of ill health in later life, ranging from depression to obesity.

‘Research at the IoPPN has advanced the understanding of causes, mechanisms, and consequences of childhood maltreatment. We look forward to working with NSPCC and ESRC to expedite the translation of our research for the benefit of children.’

Find out more about the new research projects funded by NSPCC and ESRC.