The Triple B Study: Bumps, Babies and Beyond is an innovative Australian study of approximately 1,600 families. The project is a longitudinal pregnancy cohort which examines a range of biopsychosocial factors that relate to the health and development of Australian children and families.

Importantly, the project has a key focus on examining the impacts of substance use and mental health in pregnant women and their partners during the prenatal period on child development and family functioning. The results of this study will inform public health and treatment initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children and families.

Investigators

Delyse Hutchinson
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Research Team
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Doctoral Students
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Study focus

Effects of substance use (alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs) and mental health during pregnancy in women and partners on child development and family functioning.

Sampling frame

Women attending antenatal services attached to major hospitals, and specialist drug and alcohol antenatal services, in New South Wales and Western Australia.

Data access

Yes, with formal approval from study investigators.

Time period

2008 - Ongoing

Original sample size

1,621

Intergenerational

Yes

Imaging

No

Linkage

Yes – NAPLAN

Biosamples

Buccal, Urine

Ethics approvals or requirements

This project only (Specific consent); Future research related to this project (Extended consent)

Waves

Wave Year / Period Age (mean, range) Eligible sample
1 2008-2013 Prenatal – Trimester 1 1,621
2 2008-2013 Prenatal – Trimester 2 1,598
3 2008-2013 Prenatal – Trimester 3 1,580
4 2008-2013 Birth 1,479
5 2008-2013 Postpartum / Infancy
8 weeks of age
1,461
6 2009-2014 Infancy
12 months of age
1,377
7 2012-2015 Preschool
3 years of age
132
8 2017-2022 Middle childhood
8 years of age
1,056
9 2024-2030 Adolescence
15 years of age
1,599

Key references

Hutchinson, D., Wilson, J., Allsop, S., Elliott, E., Najman, J., Burns, L., Bartu, A., Jacobs, S., Honan, I., McCormack, C., Rossen, L., Fiedler, H., Stone, C., Khor, S., Ryan, J., Youssef, G. J., Olsson, C. A., Mattick, R. P. & The Triple B Research Consortium (2018). Cohort Profile: The Triple B Pregnancy Cohort Study: A longitudinal study of the relationship between alcohol, tobacco and other substance use during pregnancy and the health and well-being of Australian children and families. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(1), 26-27m. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyx126

Primary institution

Collaborating institutions

Major funding sources

Contact

Cohort Representative

Associate Professor Delyse Hutchinson

+61 3 9246 8778 tripleb@deakin.edu.au

Address

Triple B Study,
School of Psychology,
Deakin University,
221 Burwood Hwy
Burwood VIC 3125

Study website

https://lifecourse.melbournechildrens.com/cohorts/triple-b