Population research

Issues related to population structure and wellbeing are at the core of The Population Research Institute´s interests. Väestöliitto´s Population Policy Programme (in Finnish) visions the future development of the Finnish society in the light of demographic and social research. We focus on studies on family and fertility, sexology and migration.
 

Family research

The Population Research Institute focuses on sociological and demographic research on families and family wellbeing. We study family formation, couple relationships, fertility behaviour as well as social relationships in the families and between generations. We publish annually Family Survey.

Current research projects:

Family Barometer

The 2010 Family Barometer focuses on attitudes and opinions related to family policy measures. We use data from a representative survey conducted in late 2009.

The 2011 Family Barometer studies leisure time activities of children and youth. We participate in the new Time use survey coordinated by Statistics Finland.

More information: Director Anna Rotkirch, firstname.lastname@vaestoliitto.fi tel. 09-2280 5144

Late fertility: postponement of parenthood and its implications
Postponement of parenthood is a common trend among industrialized countries. It has important consequencies for the families and individuals as well as for the society. Research project examines fertility trends in Finland during the late 1900 and in 2000 and factors related to postponement of childbearing. We investigate childbearing intentions and barriers among Finnish young adults, childlessness and parenthood motivations and expectations among IVF-patients.

More information: Director Anna Rotkirch, firstname.lastname@vaestoliitto.fi, tel. 09-228 05144

Reproductive behaviour in contemporary societies
The project brings together a mutlidisciplinary group of demographers, sociologists, psychologists, and evolutionary biologists to study human fertility behaviour and family formation from an evolutionary point of view. We examine the determinants of fertility on individual, social and population level using data from registers, surveys and qualititative interviews. This is a joint research project involving University of Helsinki, University of Sheffield and Väestöliitto. Funding: Kone Foundation.

More information: Director Anna Rotkirch, firstname.lastname@vaestoliitto.fi, tel. 09-228 05144

The role of origin in the life of transnational adoptees in Finland
Transnational adoption is an interesting research topic regarding to family relations and ethnicity since neither family nor ethnicity run in this case through biological kinship. The main questions of this dissertation study are: What aspect of origin is meaningful to a transnational adoptee and why? In which situations is the adoptee´s origin meaningful and how do these meanings vary in different social environments. Are there any differences in attitudes towards "invisible" (mostly Russian-born adoptees) and "visible" transnational adoptees?

The data is collected by interviewing adoptees (mostly Indian, Ethiopian, Colombian and Russian) in addition by focus group interviews with adoptive parents. The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Fund is financing this project which lasts until 2012.

More information: Visiting researher Heidi Ruohio, firstname.lastname@vaestoliitto.fi

Family-friendly practices in working places
The aim of this project is to promote family-friendly practices in Finnish working places. The focus is on the flexibility of working hours and the main topics are: 1) how to support parents´ possibilities in combining work and family life, 2) which are the most effective ways in increasing information of the family-friendly practices so that more enterprises would fulfill the demands of a "family-friendly organization", and 3) which are the main obstacles hindering good practices in combining work and family life. A couple of pilot enterprises have been committed in 2009; the main method used is focus group interview. The project lasts until 2011.

More information: Project coordinator Anna Kokko, firstname.lastname@vaestoliitto.fi tel. 09-2280 5118

Social history of abortions in Finland, 1950–1972

Väestöliitto's social board granted permissions for induced abortions in the 1950s–70s. We study the social history of abortions in collaboration with the unit for economic and social history at the University of Helsinki

Sexological research
 

Sexological research in the Population Research Institute focuses to survey and follow-up an evolution in adult population’s sexual desires, values, behaviors, sexual problems, and sexual pleasures. In these sexual issues, the changes can be studied and analyzed already over the fifty years’ period. Research in FINSEX research project is conducted mainly by national sex surveys.

Secondly, the Population Research Institute monitors the evolution in sex education and sexual health knowledge among the school children in PESESE research project. In addition to these projects the Institute conducts also qualitative sexual studies and distinct international collaborative projects.

Migration research

In recent years a number of projects related to migrant women - such as FEMAGE and MONIKKO - have been carried out. The Institute also participates in developing practice and evaluation of immigrant integration as well as general population and migration research

ETNOKIDS - Disparities in health and wellbeing among children in Finland
Ethnic backround, social contexts of development and health-related lifestyles. A research consurtium of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and Väestöliitto. In Väestöliitto´s sub-project parenting in migrant families and school-home interaction will be examined. Financed by The Academy of Finland in 2010-2013.

Recognition of cultural diversity
Recognition of Cultural diversity in everyday life in Finland: Case studies in intercultural interaction arenas. This research project investigates the experiences and capacities of working in culturally diverse working environments in Finland. The project is headed by the University of Tampere and is carried out in cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland. Financed by The Academy of Finland, Ministry of Education and The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. The project will end in 2010. Home page of the project: http://www.uta.fi/projektit/saiia/

More information

Senior researcher Minna Säävälä,

firstname.lastname@vaestoliitto.fi

tel.09-2280 5122