The Wirral Child Health and Development Study (WCHADS) was established in 2007 to explore the early social, emotional, and biological factors contributing to childhood conduct problems and emotional issues. The study aims to identify different pathways leading to antisocial outcomes, which could inform tailored treatment approaches. The cohort was drawn from first-time mothers receiving antenatal care at the Wirral University Teaching Hospital, with recruitment occurring between February 2007 and October 2008. The study initially enrolled 1286 mothers and 1014 partners, with a final sample of 1233 mothers who had live, singleton births without major congenital abnormalities. A focused subsample of 316 mothers was selected for intensive study based on experiences of partner psychological abuse during pregnancy. The study employs a range of experimental, observational, and biological measurements to achieve its objectives.