New research project on parental alcohol use disorder and out-of-home care placement of children


A new research initiative from Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet has been launched to explore how parental alcohol use disorders are associated with children entering out-of-home care (OHC). The project, titled “The intersection of parental alcohol use disorders and child welfare” has been awarded 200,000 SEK by Systembolagets Alkoholforskningsråd.

A new research initiative from Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet has been launched to explore how parental alcohol use disorders are associated with children entering out-of-home care (OHC). The project, titled “The intersection of parental alcohol use disorders and child welfare” has been awarded 200,000 SEK by Systembolagets Alkoholforskningsråd.

An alcoholic father leaning over a kitchen table with a glass of whiskey.in the kitchen.
Photo: Mostphotos

The study is led by Viviane Schultz Straatmann in collaboration with Ylva Brännström Almquist from the Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, and Helio A. Manhica from Karolinska Institutet. It aims to fill critical gaps in understanding how parental alcohol use disorders (AUD) interact with factors like other psychiatric comorbidities and socioeconomic challenges which might increase the risk of children being placed in out-of-home care (OHC).

Viviane Schultz Straatmann
Photo: Bildbyrån

This funding allows us to better understand the vulnerable societal context in which parents AUD often live. Parents with AUD often face severe challenges in providing a stable and nurturing environment for their children, which can lead to profound consequences for family dynamics and child well-being,” says Viviane Schultz Straatmann, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator at the Department of Public Health Sciences.

 

Risk factors and the impact of OHC on parents

Parents with AUD are known to be in child welfare services. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the underlying causes. The new research project The Intersection of parental alcohol use disorders and child welfare focuses on two key areas. Firstly, the researchers will study risk factors, such as psychiatric disorders and socioeconomic challenges and how these interact with alcohol problems in a way that increases the risk of child placement in OHC. Secondly, the researchers will examine the impact of child removal on this specific group of parents. They will look into how this affects the social circumstances and the overall health of parents with AUD, including its implications for family reunification.

Parents with AUD often face severe challenges in providing a stable and nurturing environment for their children, which can lead to profound consequences for family dynamics and child well-being.

 

Using data from the SWIFT90 cohort

The research will utilize data from a newly established cohort of the “Swedish families of the 1990s” (SWIFT90) . SWIFT90 is a register-based cohort that follows everyone born between 1990 and 1999, their parents and siblings. Using advanced machine learning techniques, the researchers will identify the primary predictors of child placements particularly related to families affected by AUD. Additionally, difference-in-differences models will assess whether child removal improves outcomes for parents or introduces new challenges.

"The rich intergenerational data in SWIFT90 is a great fit for studying how the challenges faced by families with AUD affect their risk of child welfare interventions and what this means for parents' lives," says Viviane S. Straatmann.

This groundbreaking project highlights the importance of addressing the unique challenges of families affected by AUD and providing child welfare services with the knowledge to better support this group. The findings might help the creation of actionable insights into the factors driving child welfare interventions among these families and the resulting impacts on their lives. By shedding light on these dynamics, the research seeks to inform policies and interventions that specifically support families with AUD, reduce unnecessary child placements, and enhance the chances of successful family reunification.

Håkan Soold

Facts on the project

Project title: The intersection of parental alcohol use disorders and child welfare
Duration: January 1–December 31, 2025
Funding: 200,000 SEK from Systembolagets Alkoholforskningsråd
Project Team:
•    Viviane Schultz Straatmann, Researcher and Principal Investigator, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University
•    Ylva B Almquist, Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University
•    Helio A. Manhica, Lecturer, Karolinska Institutet

 

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