Life-course determinants and prevention of violence (360G-Wellcome-210735_A_18_Z)

I will use a life-course epidemiological approach to investigate determinants and prevention of violence, based on four population-based birth cohort studies (N > 4,000 in each) started in 1982, 1993, 2004, and 2015 in Pelotas city, southern-Brazil. My goals are to: 1) investigate early life-mechanisms hypothesised to cause persistent child aggression leading to violence; 2) investigate reasons for the rapid increases in violence during the course of the studies; and 3) evaluate two early interventions to prevent child behaviour problems leading to violence, in a randomised-control trial nested in the youngest cohort study (2015). With respect to early-life determinants, new psychological assessments of child socio-cognitive functioning (including self-control, verbal skills, and empathy) and parenting factors (sensitivity, harsh and inconsistent parenting) will be introduced in the youngest cohort, and a biological indicator of chronic stress (cortisol from hair samples) will be measured in the 2015 and 2004 cohorts. A four-arm randomised trial will be used to evaluate the effects of two parenting interventions: 1) parent-training in book-sharing to promote parental sensitivity and child cognitive development – key protective factors against aggression and violence; 2) parent-training that targets a reduction in harsh discipline and maltreatment – also key risk factors for problem behaviour.