A shortcut to understanding child maltreatment and mental health outcomes? A quantitative examination of the “toxic trio”

The “toxic trio” of factors (domestic violence, parental mental illness, and parental substance abuse) implicated in child maltreatment and poor outcomes for children has become embedded in child protection policy and practice over the last ten years. This project will examine the relationship between these factors and child ‘looked after’ status, child mental health, and whether a child is on a child protection plan to determine whether the “toxic trio” concept is a legitimate shortcut to understanding these child outcomes.