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Research Network CYAD – Child and Youth Antisocial Development

Our newly established network, the Network for Research on Child and Youth Antisocial Development (abbreviated as CYAD), aims to generate and disseminate actionable knowledge about children and adolescents aged 6 to 21 at various stages of antisocial development.

graphic Illustration of a network
Illustration of a network Photo: Officepaketet,PowerPoint

The involvement of children and adolescents in violent and criminal activities constitutes a serious societal problem in Sweden today. The issue has escalated in recent years. The number of individuals under 15 committing criminal acts has tripled since 2019, and in 2023, the number of detained 15–17-year-olds increased by 73%. Last year, approximately 3,700 minors were involved in criminal groups.

To address this growing challenge, a new platform for research and knowledge dissemination—CYAD (Child and Youth Antisocial Development)—has been established at Ì½»¨¾«Ñ¡. CYAD is grounded in a biopsychosocial model of antisocial development, emphasizing the interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors, as well as individual-level perspectives.

Examples of research conducted by members of the CYAD network include:

  • Evaluations of treatments in institutional care targeting substance abuse and criminal group involvement,
  • Interventions for school-aged children exhibiting aggressive and externalizing behavior,
  • Development and evaluation of an interactive educational platform for school staff focused on norm-breaking behavior, and
  • Studies of biological correlates of psychopathy and lack of empathy.

Aim  

  • Promote collaboration between universities and operational stakeholders
  • Disseminate knowledge through courses and seminars targeted at practitioners and the general public
  • Develop and evaluate interventions that prevent antisocial behavior—from children at risk to youth already involved in criminality
  • Increase the precision of assessments for children and adolescents with antisocial behavior
  • Advance the research field through innovative ideas, high-quality research, and both national and international collaborations

Upcoming Events

  • Webinar on the role of girls in criminal groups
  • Dialogue meeting with public authorities, planned for January 2026
  • Course on children and adolescents with severe norm-breaking behavior, planned for 2026

CYAD Steering Committee

The steering committee includes researchers from the Centre for Psychiatric Research at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡.

Content reviewer:
Sara Norring
Sara Norring
16-06-2025