Childhood and family

Research of childhood and family focuses on the growth and development of children, the everyday life of families and current phenomena affecting parenting.

The research addresses issues such as the diversification and globalisation of society, the effects of inequality and changing working lives. The focus is on children's growth, development, functioning, participation and well-being, explored throughout childhood and adolescence in different growing environments. In addition to longitudinal studies, new participatory methods such as visual and narrative methods and diary applications are used to explore development and change and to consult families and children.

Research findings will be used to support children's well-being, learning and parenting, and to develop the work of education professionals. 

Research groups in the research area

Research group

Resource and Stress Factors in Parenthood (Vanhemmuuden Voimavara- ja Kuormitustekijät; VoiKu)

The research group is interested in parenthood and the well-being of families and parents.
Research group

Right to Belong: Tackling loneliness and ostracism during childhood and adolescence 2022-2028

The interdisciplinary Right to Belong project (R-to-B) seeks research-based solutions to decrease children’s and youth’s loneliness and ostracism in different environments.
Research group

Trace - research group

We are interested in early educational institutions (early childhood education and care, primary school), the educational practices, and children's, professionals' and parents' experiences.

Research projects in this research area

Project

Asymmetric Encounters: Intersubjectivity and the Sense of Boundaries

The project argues that our subjective sense of boundaries is multilayered and potentially includes tensions between the layers. The project is theoretical and it makes use of philosophical, psychoanalytic and psychological resources.
Project

Learning to coparent: A longitudinal, cross-national study on construction of coparenting in transition to parenthood (CopaGloba)

Learning to coparent
Project

MUSPRO – music and sports

This project explores the potential benefits from music and physical education in children’s development of social and emotional skills.
Project

OneChild - Fertility Decline and One-Child Families in Finland

Research Project
Project

SchoolTrace - Children's spaces and relations in transition to school

Research project on children's transition from pre-primary education to school
Project

Skills, support, and physical activity - TAITURIT-study

Liikuntataidot ja sosiaalinen tuki johtavat lasten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen kehityksellisten mekanismien kautta.