Synopsis

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.  

Summary

Study name The Triple B Pregnancy Cohort Study (Bumps, Babies and Beyond)
Study abbreviation Triple B
Current principal investigator/s Associate Professor Delyse Hutchinson – TripleB Scientific Director and NHMRC Leadership Fellow
Professor Richard Mattick – NHMRC Principal Research Fellow 
Current project manager Tanja Capic
Cohort representative (study contact) Associate Professor Delyse Hutchinson
Postal address Triple B Study, School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy Burwood VIC 3125
Phone +613 9246 8778
Email tripleb@deakin.edu.au
Primary Institution

Deakin University

Collaborating Institution/s University of New South Wales
Curtin University
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute – MCRI
University of Sydney
University of Queensland
Major funding sources

National Health and Medical Research Council

Australian Rotary Health Mental Health of Young Australians Research Grant

Study website http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/project/triple-b-bumps-babies-and-beyond
Key reference

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 

Are data available outside study team? Yes, with formal approval from study investigators
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.
Year commenced 2009
Commencement sample 1,623
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 Age (mean, range) Eligible sample
1  2009-2013 Prenatal – Trimester 1 1,621 families
(1,533 mothers general antenatal clinics / 88 mothers specialist drug and alcohol antenatal clinics)
2  2009-2013 Prenatal – Trimester 2 1,596 families
(1,511 mothers general antenatal clinics / 85 mothers specialist drug and alcohol antenatal clinics)
3  2009-2013 Prenatal – Trimester 3 1,579 families
(1,498 mothers; 824 partners general antenatal clinics / 81 mothers specialist drug and alcohol antenatal clinics)
4  2009-2013 Birth 1,479 families
(1,414 mothers; 1,453 offspring; 1,376 singletons, 37 twin pairs, 1 set of triplets general antenatal clinics / 65 mothers; 65 offspring, all singletons specialist drug and alcohol antenatal clinics)
5  2009-2013

Postpartum / Infancy 

8 weeks of age 

1,460 families
(1,399 mothers; 685 partners*; 1,436 infant offspring general antenatal clinics / 61 mothers and infant offspring specialist drug and alcohol antenatal clinics)
*The 8-week follow-up interview for partners was introduced after the pilot study. As such, 8-week data were unavailable for 60
participating partners, as it was not offered.
6  2010-2014

Infancy

12 months of age

1,289 mothers; 711 partners; 1,324 infant offspring general antenatal clinics / 48 mothers; 48 infant offspring specialist drug and alcohol antenatal clinics
7  2013-2014

Preschool

3 years of age

Substudy: 132 families
8  2017-2022

Middle childhood

8 years of age

1,103 mothers; 839 partners; 

1,084 child offspring general antenatal clinics / 19 child offspring specialist drug and alcohol antenatal clinics.