Promotive and protective factors in the context of reading and math difficulties

This project aims to identify protective factors that enhance resilience in the development of reading and math skills, as well as in broader educational outcomes. Supported by the Academy of Finland (Grant number: #339418, 2021-2024), this research seeks to offer valuable insights into effective educational practices.

Table of contents

Project duration
-
Core fields of research
Learning, teaching and interaction
Research areas
Motivation, learning and environment for learning
Research methods
Department
Department of Psychology
Faculty
Faculty of Education and Psychology
Funding
Research Council of Finland

Project description

This project focuses on promotive and protective factors in the context of reading and math difficulties. The project aims to understand two types of resilience: (1) educational engagement and attainment during secondary education despite learning difficulties, and (2) resolution of reading and math difficulties over time. The goal is to integrate information regarding child-, parent-, and school-related factors in order to identify the promotive and protective factors contributing to the two types of resilience. This will be achieved by: (1) using longitudinal datasets spanning from early childhood to adulthood, (2) including a variety of cognitive, parental, motivational, and school-related factors, and (3) using advanced statistical methods. Data from two Finnish longitudinal studies will be used; the Jyvaskyla Longitudinal Study of Dyslexia (JLD) and the First Steps Study/School Path. 

The findings add knowledge on the protective mechanisms in the development of reading and math and inform the development of evidence-based curricula, the development of targeted support systems, and intervention programs for children and youth facing difficulties in reading and math.

Publications

Publication
2025
Available through Open Access

Learning and Instruction
Torppa, Minna
Psyridou, Maria
Khanolainen, Daria
Koponen, Tuire
Salminen, Jenni
Publication
2024
Available through Open Access

Learning and Individual Differences
Ulvinen, Emmi
Psyridou, Maria
Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Poikkeus, Anna-Maija
Siekkinen, Martti
Torppa, Minna
Publication
2024
Available through Open Access

Journal of Educational Psychology
Psyridou, Maria
Koponen, Tuire
Tolvanen, Asko
Aunola, Kaisa
Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Poikkeus, Anna-Maija
Torppa, Minna
Publication
2024
Available through Open Access

Scientific Reports
Psyridou, Maria
Prezja, Fabi
Torppa, Minna
Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Poikkeus, Anna-Maija
Vasalampi, Kati
Publication
2024
Available through Open Access

Scientific Studies of Reading
Khanolainen, Daria
Psyridou, Maria
Eklund, Kenneth
Aro, Tuija
Torppa, Minna
Publication
2023
Available through Open Access

Reading and Writing
Psyridou, Maria
Tolvanen, Asko
Niemi, Pekka
Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Poikkeus, Anna-Maija
Torppa, Minna
Publication
2023
Available through Open Access

Developmental Psychology
Psyridou, Maria
Torppa, Minna
Tolvanen, Asko
Poikkeus, Anna-Maija
Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Koponen, Tuire
Publication
2023
Available through Open Access

Learning and Individual Differences
Khanolainen, Daria
Koponen, Tuire
Eklund, Kenneth
Gerike, Georgia
Psyridou, Maria
Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Aro, Mikko
Torppa, Minna
Publication
2023
Available through Open Access

Scientific Studies of Reading
Psyridou, Maria
Tolvanen, Asko
Patel, Priyanka
Khanolainen, Daria
Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina
Poikkeus, Anna-Maija
Torppa, Minna

Pre-prints

Psyridou, M., Koponen, T., Torppa, M., Bull, R., & Lerkkanen, M. K. (2023). Resilience mechanisms in arithmetic: Identification of promotive and protective factors.  

Psyridou, M., Prezja, F., Torppa, M., Lerkkanen, M.-K., Poikkeus, A.-M., Vasalampi, K. (2024). Machine learning predicts upper secondary education dropout as early as the end of primary school. (arXiv:2403.14663)