Research summary
The maltreatment of children is a widespread public health problem that significantly affects the quality of life of parents and their children. Being exposed to abuse or neglect as a child also poses a major risk of experiencing health inequalities.
As Canada Research Chair in Family Health and Preventive Interventions, Dr. Andrea Gonzalez is trying to understand how family violence is inflicted and passed on and which interventions could help reverse it. She and her research team hope their findings may help healthcare providers know which prevention strategies and responses work best. Ultimately, Gonzalez’s research will improve the health of vulnerable women and children and benefit hundreds of thousands of Canadians who are exposed to adverse childhood circumstances each day.