Areas of Expertise
Global health
Implementation science
Preventive interventions
Trauma and trauma treatment
I received my PhD from the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, in 2015. Since then, I have worked as a researcher and research leader at NKVTS while also holding positions at the University of Oslo (post doc) and the University of Bergen (researcher and PhD supervisor). My current positions are as senior researcher and principal investigator at the Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies and department director at the cluster for global health at the Norwegian Institute for Public Health. My academic interests include intervention and implementation research, global and public health, with a particular focus on mental health, violence and trauma. I am also passionate about leadership and like to combine leadership and research responsibillities.
I have received four research grants and been the principal investigator in studies conducted in multiple countries, including Norway, Colombia, Mozambique, and Uganda. Between 2018-2021 I was the project leader of national implementation of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) in Norwegian child and adolescent mental health clinics, and principal investigator of an implementation research study where the aim was to investigate the effect of the Leadership and Organizational Change for Organization (LOCI) strategy on implementation success of evidence-based treatment methods for PTSD. I am currently principal investigator of an implementation study related to task-shifted mental health promotion at primary schools in Uganda, and for research projects in Norway related to children and trauma.
I supervise students at master, specialist, and PhD level. Currently I have the pleasure of supervising four PhD candidates in topics related to global mental health, early childhood alcohol use, trauma treatment in child advocacy centers, and psychosocial care of elderly.
I am the chair of Global Health Norway as well as board member at the Norwegian Research School for Global Health, International Community Health (2 years master´s), International Child Development Programme (ICDP), and Nettverk for implementeringsforskning [Network for Implementation Research].
Please reach out for collaboration initiatives or any other questions you may have!
Projects
- 2024-2027 Utøvere av vold i nære relasjoner: risiko, behandling og utfall.
- 2021-2026 TREAT INTERACT: Implementing a user involved education- and health system INTERACTive task-shifting approach for child mental health promotion in Uganda
- 2008-2025 Treatment of traumatized children and adolescents, TF-CBT
- 2021-2025 TF-CBT in Norwegian Child Advocacy Centers
- 2009-2024 Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers – Trauma experiences and mental health problems
Academic Articles
Aminihajibashi, S., Jensen, T., Skar, A. S., (2024). Exploring key job demands and resources in Norwegian child mental health services: a cross-sectional study of associations with and relationship between compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress and turnover intentionFrontiers Media S.A.. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1304345
Nalugya, J., Engebretsen, I. M. S., Nakasujja, N., Ndeezi, G., Babirye, J. N., Bakken, V., Skar, A. S., Tumwine, J. K., Skokauskas, N., (2024). Improving alcohol and substance use screening in school-age children: translation, adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the CRAFFT tool for Lumasaaba, UgandaBioMed Central (BMC). doi:10.1186/s13722-024-00465-7
Borren, I., Skar, A. S., (2024). Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Assessment, Intervention and Moving On (AIM3); utredningsmodellen. PsykTestBarn. doi:10.21337/0084
Borren, I., Skar, A. S., (2024). Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Assessment, Intervention and Moving On (AIM3); utredningsmodellen. PsykTestBarn. doi:10.7557/29.7628
Bartels, L., Skar, A. S., Birkeland, M. S., Ormhaug, S. M., Berliner, L., Jensen, T., (2023). The differential impact of the DSM-5 post-traumatic stress symptoms on functional impairment in traumatized children and adolescentsSpringer. doi:10.1007/s00787-023-02266-w
Egeland, K. M., Borge, R. H., Peters, N., Bækkelund, H., Braathu, N., Sklar, M., Aarons, G. A., Skar, A. S., (2023). Individual‑level associations between implementation leadership, climate, and anticipated outcomes: a time‑lagged mediation analysisBioMed Central (BMC). doi:10.1186/s43058-023-00459-7
Holmsen, L. C., Tveit, B., Skar, A. S., Hem, M. H., (2023). Professional caregivers' participation in the International Caregiver Development Programme: A qualitative study of psychosocial care in nursing homesJohn Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/nop2.1775
Aminihajibashi, S., Skar, A. M. S., & Jensen, T. (2022). Professional wellbeing and turnover intention among child therapists: a comparison between therapists trained and untrained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1). doi:10.1186/s12913-022-08670-3
Brekke, I., Smith, O. R. F., Skjønsberg, E. E., Holt, T., Helland, M. S., Aarø, L. E., Røysamb, E., Røsand, G. M. B., Torgersen, L., Skar, A. M. S., & Aase, H. (2022). Effectiveness of the International Child Development Programme: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Child & Family Social Work, 1-15. doi:10.1111/cfs.12973
Skar, A. M. S., Braathu, N., Jensen, T., & Ormhaug, S. M. (2022). Predictors of nonresponse and drop-out among children and adolescents receiving TF-CBT: investigation of client-, therapist-, and implementation factors. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1-13. doi:10.1186/s12913-022-08497-y
Ramsli, E. G., Skar, A. M. S., Skylstad, V., Sjöblom, D., Gread, Z., Chiong, W., & Engebretsen, I. M. S. (2022). Child and Caregiver Reporting on Child Maltreatment and Mental Health in the Philippines Before and After an International Child Development Program (ICDP) Parenting Intervention. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma. doi:10.1007/s40653-022-00483-0
Jensen, T., Braathu, N., Birkeland, M. S., Ormhaug, S. M., & Skar, A. M. S. (2022). Complex PTSD and treatment outcomes in TF-CBT for youth: A naturalistic study. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(2), 1-11. doi:10.1080/20008066.2022.2114630
Skylstad, V., Engebretsen, I. M. S., Nalugya, S., Opesen, C., Ndeezi, G., Okello, E., . . . Skar, A. M. S.. . . Skar, A. et al. (2022). ‘There is nowhere to take the child’: a qualitative study of community members’ views on managing early childhood substance use in Mbale, Uganda. BMC Public Health, 22. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13548-4
Skar, A. M. S., Shevlin, M., & Vang, M. L. (2022). Does Personal Therapy and Supervision Protect Against Burnout and Secondary Traumatization? A Cross-Sectional Study Among Danish Child Protection Workers. Traumatology. doi:10.1037/trm0000372
Borge, R. H., Egeland, K. M., Aarons, G. A., Ehrhart, M. G., Sklar, M., & Skar, A. M. S. (2022). “Change Doesn’t Happen by Itself”: A Thematic Analysis of First-Level Leaders’ Experiences Participating in the Leadership and Organizational Change for Implementation (LOCI) Strategy. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research. doi:10.1007/s10488-022-01199-x
Skylstad, V., Babirye, J. N., Kiguli, J., Skar, A. M. S., Kühl, M. J., Nalugya, J. S., & Engebretsen, I. M. S. (2022). Are we overlooking alcohol use by younger children. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 6(1). doi:10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001242
Skylstad, V., Nalugya, J. S., Skar, A. M. S., Opesen, C., Ndeezi, G., Okello, E. S., . . . Tumwine, J. et al. (2022). ‘As soon as they can hold a glass, they begin taking alcohol’: a qualitative study on early childhood substance use in Mbale District, Uganda. BMC Public Health, 22(1). doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13140-w
Birkeland, M. S., Skar, A. M. S., & Jensen, T. (2022). Understanding the relationships between trauma type and individual posttraumatic stress symptoms: A cross-sectional study of a clinical sample of children and adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13602
Skar, A. M. S., Braathu, N., Peters, N., Bækkelund, H., Endsjø, M., Babaii, A., Borge, R. H., Wentzel-Larsen, T., Ehrhart, M. G., Sklar, M., Brown, C. H., Aarons, G. A., & Egeland, K. M. (2022). A stepped-wedge randomized trial investigating the effect of the Leadership and Organizational Change for Implementation (LOCI) intervention on implementation and transformational leadership, and implementation climate. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1). doi:10.1186/s12913-022-07539-9
Braathu, N., Laukvik, E. H., Egeland, K. M., & Skar, A. M. S. (2022). Validation of the Norwegian versions of the Implementation Leadership Scale (ILS) and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) in a mental health care setting. BMC Psychology. doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00725-8
Peters, N., Borge, R. H., Skar, A. M. S., & Egeland, K. M. (2022). Measuring implementation climate: Psychometric properties of the Implementation Climate Scale (ICS) in Norwegian mental health care services. BMC Health Services Research. doi:10.1186/s12913-021-07441-w
Borge, R. H., Skar, A. M. S., Endsjø, M., & Egeland, K. M. (2021). Good soldiers in implementation: validation of the Implementation Citizenship Behavior Scale and its relation to implementation leadership and intentions to use evidence-based practices. Implementation Science Communications, 2. doi:10.1186/s43058-021-00240-8
Skylstad, V., Aber, H., Bakken, V., Dierkes, J., Iversen, S. A., Akselberg, S. M., Kisaakye, E., Kühl, M. J., Nalugya, J., Rayamajhi, D., Rayamajhi, D., Sebuwufu, D., Skar, A. M. S., Skokauskas, N., Valeckaite, N., Valeckaite, N., Wamani, H., Engebretsen, I. M. S., & Babirye, J. N. (2021). Child alcohol use disorder in Eastern Uganda: Screening, diagnostics, risk factors and management of children drinking alcohol in Uganda (TREAT C-AUD): A mixed-methods research protocol. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 5(1), 1-8. doi:10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001214
Skar, A. M. S., Jensen, T. K., & Harpviken, A. N. (2021). Who Reports What? A Comparison of Child and Caregivers´ Reports of Child Trauma Exposure and Associations to Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Functional Impairment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinics. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. doi:10.1007/s10802-021-00788-y Summary
Andersson, E. S., Skar, A. M. S., & Jensen, T. K. (2021). Unaccompanied refugee minors and resettlement: Turning points towards integration. European Journal of Social Psychology, 1-30. doi:10.1002/ejsp.2761 Summary
Engebretsen, I. M. S., Skar, A. M. S., Dierkes, J., Kühl, M. J., Skylstad, V., Teigland, K., . . . Aber, H. et al. (2020). Are pre-adolescent children drinking alcohol? Studies on child alcohol use disorder in Eastern Uganda. World Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Stadnick, N. A., Aarons, G. A., Blake, L., Brookman-Frazee, L. I., Dourgnon, P., Engell, T., Engell, T., Jusot, T., Lau, A. A., Prieur, C., Skar, A. M. S., & Barnet, M. L. (2020). Leveraging implementation science to reduce inequities in children’s mental health care: Highlights from a multidisciplinary international colloquium. BMC Proceedings, 14(2). doi:10.1186/s12919-020-00184-2
Egeland, K. M., Skar, A. M. S., Endsjø, M., Laukvik, E. H., Bækkelund, H., Babaii, A., Granly, L. B., Granly, L., Husebø, G. K., Borge, R. H., Ehrhart, M. G., Sklar, M., Brown, C. H., & Aarons, G. A. (2019). Testing the leadership and organizational change for implementaion (LOCI) intervention in Norwegian mental health clinics: a stepped-wedge cluster randomized design study protocol. Implementation Science, 14(28). doi:10.1186/s13012-019-0873-7
Skar, A. M. S., Ormhaug, S. M., & Jensen, T. K. (2019). Reported Levels of Upset in Youth After Routine Trauma Screening at Mental Health Clinics. JAMA Network Open, 2(5), e194003. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4003
Jensen, T. K., Skar, A. M. S., Andersson, E. S., & Birkeland, M. S. (2019). Long-term mental health in unaccompanied refugee minors: Pre- and post-flight predictors. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. doi:10.1007/s00787-019-01340-6 Summary
Skar, A. M. S., De Abreu, R. M., & Vaughn, M. J. (2019). Strengthening a Whole Child Approach within Residential Care Settings Through Psychosocial Support and Nutritional Guidance. Child Care in Practice, 25(3), 230-247. doi:10.1080/13575279.2017.1371670
Skar, A. M. S., Sherr, L., Macedo, A., von Tetzchner, S., & Fostervold, K. I. (2017). Evaluation of parenting interventions to prevent violence against children in Colombia - a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(1-2), 1098-1126. doi:10.1177/0886260517736881
Skar, A. M. S., Flakk, G., & von Tetzchner, S. (2017). ICDP - International Child Development Programme. In H. Eng, S. K. Ertesvåg, I. Frønes & J. Kjøbli (Red.) Den krevende foreldrerollen (pp. 148-168). Gyldendal Akademisk. doi:10.1080/17405629.2013.793597
Sherr, L., Skar, A. M. S., Clucas, C., Tetzchner, S. v., & Hundeide, K. (2014). Evaluation of the International Child Development Programme (ICDP) as a community-wide parenting programme. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 11(1), 1-17. doi:10.1080/17405629.2013.793597
Skar, A. M. S., Sherr, L., Clucas, C., & Tetzchner, S. v. (2014). Evaluation of Follow-Up Effects of the International Child Development Programme on Caregivers in Mozambique. Infants and young children, 27(2), 120-135. doi:10.1097/IYC.0000000000000006
Skar, A. M. S., Tetzchner, S. v., Clucas, C., & Sherr, L. (2014). Paradoxical Correlates of a Facilitative Parenting Programme in Prison – Counterproductive Intervention or First Signs of Responsible Parenthood. Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention, 15(1), 35-54. doi:10.1080/14043858.2014.898981
Clucas, C., Skar, A. M. S., Sherr, L., & Tetzchner, S. v. (2014). Mothers and Fathers Attending the International Child Development Programme in Norway. The Family Journal, 22(4), 409-418. doi:10.1177/1066480714533640
Skar, A. M. S., Tetzchner, S. v., Clucas, C., & Sherr, L. (2014). The long-term effectiveness of the International Child Development Programme (ICDP) implemented as a community-wide parenting programme. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 12(1), 54-68. doi:10.1080/17405629.2014.950219 Summary
Skar, A. M. S., Tetzchner, S. v., Clucas, C., & Sherr, L. (2014). The impact of a parenting guidance programme for mothers with an ethnic minority background. Nordic Journal of Migration Research, 4(3), 108-117. doi:10.2478/njmr-2014-0020
Brennen, T., Hasanovic, M., Zotovic, M., Blix, I., Skar, A. M. S., Prelic, N., . . . Gavrilov-Jerkovic, V. et al. (2010). Trauma Exposure in Childhood Impairs the Ability to Recall Specific Autobiographical Memories in Late Adolescence. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(2), 240-247. doi:10.1002/jts.20513
Reports
Birkeland, M. S., Blestad, C., Granly, L., Knutsen, M. L., Ormhaug, S. M., Skar, A. S., Jensen, T., (2024). Femten år med forskning på og implementering av traumefokusert kognitiv atferdsterapi (TF-CBT) i Norge.
Hellevik, P., Kruse, A. E., Dullum, J. V., Frøyland, L. R., Skar, A. S., Andersen, L. C., Helseth, H., Frafjord, O. S. G., Haugen, L. A., Øverlien, C., (2023). Digitale seksuelle overgrep mot barn og unge – gjerningspersoner og fornærmede.
Egeland, K. M., Skar, A. M. S., Babaii, A., Borge, R. H., Braathu, N., Bækkelund, H., Endsjø, M., Granly, L., Hansen, K. S., Husebø, G. K., & Peters, N. (2022). Implementering av traumebehandling i spesialisthelsetjenesten: En nasjonal implementering av behandling av posttraumatisk stresslidelse (PTSD) for barn og voksne Norwegian only. Nasjonalt kunnskapssenter om vold og traumatisk stress. (Rapport Nr 1 2022). Summary
Skar, A. M. S., Sherr, L., Ramirez, B. R., Armstrong, N., Blestad, C., Knut Inge, F., . . . Tetzchner, S. v. et al. (2015). The effects of the International Child Development Programme (ICDP) on experiences of child violence in Colombia. A randomized controlled trail.
Skar, A. M. S., Bjørnstad, S., & Hannah, D. (2014). ICPD-foreldreveiledning i Oslo Voksenopplæring som en del av Introduksjonsprogrammet for innvandrere og flyktninger Norwegian only.
Sherr, L., Skar, A. M. S., Clucas, C., Tetzchner, S. v., & Hundeide, K. (2011). Evaluation of the Parental guidance programme based on the International Child Development Programme. Report to the Ministry of Children, Equality, and Social Inclusion.
Other publications
Andersson, E. S., Jensen, T., Skar, A. S., (2024). Enslige mindreårige asylsøkere er både sårbare og ressurssterke. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.).
Dale, E., Venkateswaran, M., Fjeldheim, I., Papadopoulou, E. Z., Myhre, S. L., Gopinathan, U., Skar, A. S., (2023). Globalt helsearbeid og bærekraft – ingen er trygge før alle er trygge. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. doi:10.4045/tidsskr.23.0499
Ormhaug, S. M., Augusti, E., Birkeland, M. S., Bræin, M. K., Evang, A., Hafstad, G. S., Hansen, L. S., Jensen, T., Knutsen, M. L., Løken, P. M. H., Michaelsen, K., Moen, L. H., Päivärinne, H. M., Simonsen, A. H., Skar, A. S., Øverland, K., Øverlien, C., (2023). Barn trenger rom til å fortelle. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening.
Ormhaug, S. M., Augusti, E., Birkeland, M. S., Bræin, M. K., Evang, A., Hafstad, G. S., Hansen, L. S., Jensen, T., Knutsen, M. L., Løken, P. M. H., Michaelsen, K., Moen, L. H., Päivärinne, H. M., Simonsen, A. H., Skar, A. S., Øverland, K., Øverlien, C., (2023). Angsten for å snakke med barn om vold og overgrep. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening.
Birkeland, M. S., Skar, A. M. S., & Jensen, T. (2022). Å bli alvorlig mobbet på skolen kan skade like mye som vold i hjemmet. Forskersonen.no.
Dybdahl, R., Lien, L., Engebretsen, I. M. S., & Skar, A. M. S. (2022). Matsikkerhet og psykisk helse henger sammen. Bistandsaktuelt.
Jensen, T. K., Skar, A. M. S., Andersson, E. S., & Birkeland, M. S. (2020). Correction to: Long-term mental health in unaccompanied refugee minors: pre- and post-flight predictors (European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, (2019), 28, 12, (1671-1682), 10.1007/s00787-019-01340-6). European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(8), 1169. doi:10.1007/s00787-019-01369-7
Engebretsen, I. M. S., Skar, A. M. S., Dierkes, J., Kühl, M. J., Skylstad, V., Keigland, K., . . . Iversen, B. et al. (2020). Are pre-adolescent children drinking alcohol? Studies on child alcohol use disorder in Eastern Uganda. World Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 19.
Andersson, E. S., Skar, A. M. S., & Jensen, T. (2020). Mot et bedre liv: vendepunkter blant enslige mindreårige asylsøkere under 16 år. Tidsskrift for psykisk helsearbeid, 17(4). doi:https://doi.org/10.18261/issn.1504-3010-2020-04-10
Skar, A. M. S., Jensen, T. K., & Selvanayagam, K. (2019). Veien fra ankomst til bosatt. In R. Dybdahl, L. Lien, H. Siem, H. H. Bakke & I. Julardzija (Red.) Asylsøkere og flyktninger. Psykisk helse og livsmestring (pp. 144-156). Universitetsforlaget.
Skar, A. M. S. (2016). Evalueringsstudier av ICDP. In I. Egebjerg, A. Johsen & G. Flakk (Red.) Håndbok for ICDP-veiledere - International Child Development Programme (pp. 47-51). .
Skar, A. M. S. (2015). Innsatte i norske fengsler og deres barn. PT (Psykologisk Tidsskrift), 1(2).
Skar, A. M. S., & Tetzchner, S. v. (2015). Parenting support as community-oriented early intervention. Journal “Early Intervention: Theory and Practice, 2.
Press Photos
-
3000x2000px
Download photo
2.9MB -
3000x2000px
Download photo
3.0MB