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A common thread in Sami Kokko’s research is the use of the settings-based approach to health promotion. In practice, this means how it is possible to develop peoples’ everyday environments at home, schools, hobbies and workplaces to promote physical activity and health. Starting from Kokko’s dissertation, one of the spearheads in his research have been sports clubs as settings to promote the health of children and adolescents.  

“In club activities, children and adolescents learn, both consciously and unconsciously, habits and routines that promote health,” says Kokko. “Two out of three children participate in club activities, so the clubs are favourable environments for health education. 

Kokko leads a national physical activity monitoring study, namely the Finnish School-age Physical Activity (FSPA) study. Taking place every two years, the FSPA survey was first conducted in 2014. The study is being conducted in extensive cooperation with different parties and involves around 40 researchers. Currently the study, in cooperation with the UKK Institute, collects data on the quantity and quality of physical activity among 7 to 20 year olds nationwide.

“The FSPA study has collected very solid data over the years,” says Kokko. “This helps us to make a situation analysis of the physical activity of children and youth, and this knowledge will be used when making decisions on physical activity policies.” 

According to the results of the FSPA study, only every third child or adolescent gets enough physical activity in comparison to recommendations. According to Kokko, our society has developed so that is makes us passive. 

“We live passive daily lives in which an increasing amount of things can be done digitally. Working life has intensified and technology has developed. We have more free time than before but we move less.” 

Kokko is participating in the STYLE research project, in which the goal is to increase the amount of daily physical activity and promote sustainable modes of transport such as cycling and walking. Kokko thinks the Government’s Get Finland Moving programme is a good initiative for highlighting the importance of the issue, but finds it too scattered. 

“We need a physical acticity and health promotion programme for people at the regional level. This is an example of things I wish to promote during my professorship, starting from Central Finland. At the regional level, it is possible to acknowledge regional characteristics and it is easier to lead the programme. Resourcing should be ensured for at least ten years.” 

Sami Kokko has published 79 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He has held numerous presentations and keynote speeches at international conferences and actively supervises doctoral researchers at the Ģ��ֱ��. Before his academic career, Kokko was a semi-professional ice-hockey player and worked as a head of coaching for the JYP youth team in 2000–2003.  

He completed his doctorate in health promotion in 2010 at the Ģ��ֱ�� and he has a docentship at the University of Turku. He has worked for the Ģ��ֱ�� from 2003 and became an associate professor (tenure track) in 2019 and professor in 2024. 

More information:

Professor Sami Kokko 
sami.p.kokko@jyu.fi 
0505937733