Children, adolescents and adults exposed to abuse and neglect or other difficult life events and their psychological wellbeing

My research focuses on children and youth who are exposed to abuse (for example sexual or physical abuse), sexual exploitation (for example selling sex or trafficking for sexual purposes), unwanted internet-related incidents or who are next of kin or young carers of family members with serious mental or physical health problems or addiction. When it comes to research with adult participants, the focus is on sexual harassment at the academic workplace or study environment, dental care as a venue for disclosure of sexual abuse, prostitution or interventions for families with a mentally ill family member.

The prevalence of different types of abuse and difficult life events, factors that increase or decrease the risk for abuse and the consequences of abuse and difficult life events for the individual’s psychological wellbeing are studied. Also, developmental, family-related and context-related factors are paid attention to as well as interagency collaboration.

My research is mostly quantitative and includes large epidemiological population-based surveys or register studies, evaluation of different types of specialized interventions or development of psychometric instruments for clinical use. During recent years I have also started working with qualitative interview studies.

I have an extensive network including researchers and other professionals on a national and international level. I am very interested in practice-based and applied research that is conducted in close collaboration between research and clinical work.

Current projects (by August 2019):

Tellus – a project ot reinforce Lund University’s work against sexual harassment, https://tellus.blogg.lu.se/ , 2018 – 2020, with financial support from Lund university. Parts of the results are analyzed in depth within the project from the Swedish Research Council, 2019 – 2021.

Feasibility study concerning interagency collaboration between Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry, “The Family Model”, with financial support from the National Board of Health and Welfare, 2019 – 2020.

The dental treatment setting as a venue for disclosure of sexual abuse, with financial support by, for instance, Center for sexology, Malmö university, 2016 – 2020.

Swedish norms for a standardised  intake-interview (Brief Child and Family Phone Interview, BCFPI) at child and adolescent psychiatric clinics. A collaboration between Lund university,Region Skåne, Region Halland, Region Kronoberg and BCFPI Inc and Hamilton Health Sciences in Canada, 2018 – 2020.

Youth, sex and the Internet in a changing world, 2013 – 2016, with financial support from Stiftelsen Allmänna Barnhuset and in collaboration with Linköping University. A number of scientific papers are in preparation. Main report in Swedish: http://www.allmannabarnhuset.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Unga_sex_internet_2015_slutlig.pdf. Continued scientific publications with financial support by, for instance, the Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority.

Evaluation of parent-based interventions for children who have mentally ill parents, 2013 – 2016, with financial support from The National Board of Health and Welfare and in collaboration with University of Gothenburg and Malmö University. Continued scientific publications with support from, for instance, Gyllenstiernska Krapperupstiftelsen and Stiftelsen Clas Groschinskys minnesfond.