Project Portugal 2030

Summary

The V-BEPATH project aims to address the challenging issue of intergenerational transmission of violence and trauma, which has significant implications at both the individual and societal levels. The main objective is to investigate this transmission across three generations of children and youth at risk, exploring the cumulative impact of various adverse (e.g., poverty, family dysfunctions) and traumatic experiences (e.g., abuse, domestic violence) on multiple dimensions including allostatic load (encompassing neuroendocrine, immunological, and inflammatory responses), mental and physical health, relational and behavioral patterns. The project's approach goes beyond the current state of the art by utilizing novel concepts and interdisciplinary methodologies to comprehend the complex dynamics between biological, psychological, social, and behavioral factors in the transmission of violence and trauma. The specific objectives are: 1. To assess the adverse and traumatic experiences across generations to elucidate patterns and relationships with the transmission of violence, providing a generational perspective on the perpetuation of violence and trauma. 2. To analyze key biological systems affected by exposure to stress, violence, and trauma, including: 2.1. The HPA Axis, focusing on cortisol levels to understand stress responses, coupled with an analysis of patterns of epigenetic methylation in cortisol receptor genes (e.g., NR3C1 and NR3C2) to explore mechanisms of stress reactivity and resilience. 2.2. The Immune System, measuring specific cytokines to measure responses to stress and examining the patterns of epigenetic methylation in cytokine receptor genes (e.g., IL1R, IL2RA, IL4R, IL6R, IL10RA, IL10RB) to assess impacts on immune regulation. 2.3. Affiliative Systems, assessing oxytocin and vasopressin levels and exploring the patterns of epigenetic methylation in their receptor genes (e.g., OXTR, OPRM1, OPRK1, OPRD1, AVPR1A, AVPR1B) to understand their influence on social behaviors and emotional well-being. 3. To evaluate perceived stress levels, mental health disorders (e.g., PTSD, dissociation, depression, anxiety), behavioral patterns (e.g., aggressive behaviors), resilience, coping mechanisms, and physical health (e.g., chronic conditions and sleep quality) concerning violence exposure, providing insights into the psychological and physical repercussions of adverse experiences. 4. To access socioeconomic, Social Support, and institutional Involvement, namely the role of socioeconomic status, social support networks, family dynamics (e.g., attachment, parental styles), and institutional involvement (e.g., help-seeking behaviors, cash transfer) in the transmission and mitigation of violence and trauma. 5. To understand the various pathways of exposure to violence and trauma across three generations, examining their combined influence on biological, psychological, social, and behavioral variables. The anticipated outcomes of this research aim to provide substantial contributions by combining methodologies from various disciplines, enhancing our comprehension of the intergenerational transmission of violence and trauma. The exploration of the mechanisms underlying this transmission will inform the development of tailored interventions and policies aimed at breaking the cycle of violence and trauma, thereby contributing to the mitigation of this significant global societal issue.