This research examines how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shape pathways into adult victimisation in Finland, with a particular focus on domestic and sexual violence.
It aims to identify how early adversity influences risks of violence in adulthood and why some individuals experience harmful trajectories while others do not. The study also establishes a validated, nationally representative measure of ACEs using the ACE-THL questionnaire.
Alongside this, the research examines the characteristics and backgrounds of alleged sexual offenders using a newly established THL forensic on-call database linked with national registers including Helmo, Kela, and Out of Home Care (OHC).
The research addresses major public health and societal challenges, as violence contributes to significant health, social, and economic harms. By clarifying pathways into adult victimisation and patterns of offending, it supports more effective prevention, early intervention, and service provision.
Using the Healthy Finland Survey (2022–23) and forensic database linked with national registers, the study draws on a range of quantitative methods, including item response theory and survival analysis, to model risk pathways and identify key mediators.
