Use of Linked Administrative Children’s Social Care Data for Research: A Scoping Review of Existing UK Studies

Increasing access to children’s social care data presents enormous potential for research and policy evaluation, with opportunities increased where data can be anonymously linked to other sources of information, such as health and education data. The purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of all UK data linkage studies that have used routinely collected individual-level children’s social care administrative data. Six research databases were searched and twenty-five studies were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria, with the majority (n = 18) based on English data. Complexities and the time-consuming nature of these studies are highlighted, as are issues with missing data and inconsistencies in recording information across local authorities, impacting on the linkage process. Increased access to such data, and improvements to data capture, could improve the utility of these valuable administrative data assets in the social care sector

Understanding variations in the built environment over time to inform longitudinal studies of young children's physical activity behaviour - The BEACHES Project

We know relatively little about the role the neighbourhood built environment plays in promoting young children’s physical activity, particularly its longitudinal effect either through repeated exposure to the same environment or through change in exposure by moving from one neighbourhood to another. This study characterised the neighbourhood environment of young children in the PLAYCE cohort study over three timepoints from 2015-2023. There were statistically significant differences in built environment attributes between timepoints and across socio-economic status, however they did not represent practically significant differences. These findings inform the analysis approach of subsequent research in the BEACHES Project, an international study examining the role of the built environment on child physical activity and obesity using multiple cohorts

Age at cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus and varicella zoster virus infection and risk of atopy: The Born in Bradford cohort, UK.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in recent decades, but the causes remain unclear. Changes in the epidemiology of childhood infections could have contributed, but the current evidence is inconclusive. This study aims to investigate whether age at cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is associated with the development of atopy. METHODS: A total of 2559 children were enrolled in the Born in Bradford Allergy and Infection Study. Serum samples collected at 12 and 24 months were tested for CMV-IgG, EBV-IgG and VZV-IgG for 1000 children to establish age at infection. Skin prick testing (SPT) was conducted at age 4 years. RESULTS: Serology and SPT results were available for 740 children. Of these, 135 (18%) were atopic. In girls, there was a strong association of CMV infection in the second year with increased odds of atopy (adjusted OR 4.38, 95% CI 1.87-10.29) but this was not observed in boys. Age at EBV or VZV infection was not associated with risk of atopy in unadjusted analysis, but there was effect modification by sex; girls infected with VZV in the second year of life had increased odds of atopy (adjusted OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.29-6.30). CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight potential sex-specific effects of age at CMV infection and age at VZV infection on risk of atopy, which provide insight into the mechanisms involved in the development of atopy

Do attachment-related differences in reflective functioning explain associations between expressed emotion and youth self-harm?

Youth self-harm is associated with poor health outcomes and attempted and completed suicide. Associations exist between self-harm and expressed emotion (EE), attachment insecurity, and reflective functioning (RF), but these associations are poorly understood. This study evaluates a mediation model in which perceived caregiver EE (pEE) exerts an indirect effect on youth self-harm through attachment insecurity and RF uncertainty. 461 participants aged 16–24 years completed an online survey. Statistical analyses revealed significant direct effects of pEE on attachment insecurity, and of RF uncertainty on self-harm; however, some direct effects were specific to pEE from female caregivers, and attachment insecurity in youth relationships with female caregivers. A significant direct effect of pEE on self-harm was found for pEE from male caregivers only. Significant indirect effects of pEE on self-harm through attachment anxiety and RF uncertainty were found only in relation to female caregivers. The findings encourage family-, attachment-, and mentalization-based approaches to preventing and treating youth self-harm, with a recommendation that caregivers are given adequate support, education, and skills-based training following youth disclosures of self-harm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03614-w