Funders
Main funder
Leaders
The main objective of this Making the Grade but Feeling Exhausted (WELL2) Academy Research Fellow project (2022–2027) funded by the Research Council of Finland, is to examine the developmental and situational dynamics between students’ motivation, perfectionism, and academic well-being across upper secondary education, and to consider the role of student welfare in supporting students’ learning and well-being.
A four-year longitudinal data on the development of students’ motivation, perfectionism, and academic well-being will be collected and complemented with city- and school-level information on student welfare, and in-the-moment measures of students’ situational motivation and emotions (i.e., experience sampling data).
The theoretically integrative perspective and the project design enable us to uncover motivational dynamics that contribute to student well-being, both longitudinally and situationally. The knowledge and understanding yielded will be topical in the current societal situation and important for developing student welfare.
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News
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Students’ challenges in general upper secondary education should be better acknowledged – school burnout can be prevented with the right measures
A recent study by Fiia Söderholm following Finnish general upper secondary school students over three years explored associations of students’… -
Self-critical perfectionism gnaws on students’ well-being already in lower secondary school
A new study among ninth-graders identified four perfectionistic profiles with varying associations with students’ psychological well-being. The… -
Kirjoittajakutsu opiskeluhuolto-teemanumeroon
Kirjoittajakutsu Kasvatuksen teemanumeroon 3/2025: ”Opiskeluhuolto lasten ja nuorten oppimista sekä hyvinvointia tukemassa” on julkaistu!… -
Politiikasta.fi: Menestyksen tavoittelua vaikka uupuen?
Toisen asteen opintojen aikaista hyvinvointia ja motivaatiota sekä opiskeluhuollon roolia tutkitaan ajankohtaisessa akatemiatutkijahankkeessa.
Cooperation
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PhD theses in preparation:
- Anna Kuusi, University of Eastern Finland: “Perfectionism, achievement striving, and study-related well-being during secondary education: Gender differences and developmental dynamics”
- Henriikka Juntunen, University of Eastern Finland: “University students’ motivation and well-being: Longitudinal trajectories and situational appraisals”
- Kukka-Maaria Polso, University of Helsinki: “Motivated to engage? The interplay of motivational development and behavioral engagement in adolescence”
- Elina Sinkonen, University of Eastern Finland: “Student engagement and burnout in upper secondary education: The role of support in promoting students’ academic well-being”
If you are interested in doing a PhD thesis in the project, please contact Heta Tuominen. -
Master’s theses:
- Emmi Kujala, University of Eastern Finland, 2024: Koetut oppimisvaikeudet, erityisopettajan tuki ja opiskeluhyvinvointi toisen asteen opiskelijoilla – henkilösuuntautunut näkökulma [Perceived learning difficulties, special educational teacher’s support, and academic well-being among upper secondary education students – a person-oriented approach]
If you are interested in doing a Master’s thesis in the project, please contact Heta Tuominen. -
Conference presentations:
- Tuominen, H., Kujala, E., Niemivirta, M., & Viljaranta, J. (2024). Lukiolaisten opiskeluhyvinvointi, koetut oppimisvaikeudet ja tuen tarpeet. Paper presented at the FERA Conference on Education, 21–22 November, Turku, Finland.
- Tuominen, H., Kuusi, A., & Juntunen, H. (2024). Menestyksen tavoittelua vaikka uupuen. Motivaation, perfektionismin ja opiskeluhyvinvoinnin kehityksellinen ja tilannekohtainen dynamiikka toisen asteen opintojen aikana (WELL2). Poster presented at the Educational Science Poster Exhibition, University of Eastern Finland, 24–26 September, Joensuu, Finland.
- Kuusi, A., Tuominen, H., & Niemivirta, M. (2024). Perfectionistic profiles and well-being: The moderating role of perceived support. Poster presented at the Educational Science Poster Exhibition, University of Eastern Finland, 24–26 September, Joensuu, Finland.
- Kuusi, A., Tuominen, H., & Niemivirta, M. (2024). Perfectionistic profiles, academic well-being, and perceived support in upper secondary education. Paper presented at the International Conference on Motivation & Emotion, 28–30 August, Bern, Switzerland.
- Tuominen, H., Kujala, E., Niemivirta, M., & Viljaranta, J. (2024). Academic well-being, perceived learning difficulties, and special educational teacher’s support in upper secondary school. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of Research on Learning and Learning Difficulties (OPPIVA), 4–5 June, Joensuu, Finland.
- Kuusi, A., Tuominen, H., & Niemivirta, M. (2024). Perfectionistic profiles, academic well-being, and perceived support in upper secondary education. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of Research on Learning and Learning Difficulties (OPPIVA), 4–5 June, Joensuu, Finland.
- Juntunen, H., Tuominen, H., Hirvonen, R., Viljaranta, J., Toom, A., & Niemivirta, M. (2023). Yliopisto-opiskelijoiden motivaatioprofiilien pysyvyys ja yhteydet perfektionismiin ja hyvinvointiin. Paper presented at the FERA Conference on Education, 23–24 November, Vaasa, Finland.
- Kuusi, A., Tuominen, H., & Niemivirta, M. (2023). Perfektionismi lukiossa ja ammatillisessa koulutuksessa: Erot koulutusten ja sukupuolten välillä. Paper presented at the FERA Conference on Education, 23–24 November, Vaasa, Finland.
- Tuominen, H., & Niemivirta, M. (2023). Opiskelu-uupumuksen arviointi BAT-mittarilla: Toimivuus toisella asteella ja yliopistossa. Paper presented at the FERA Conference on Education, 23–24 November, Vaasa, Finland.
- Tuominen, H., Rasa, E., Kujala, E., Viljaranta, J., & Niemivirta, M. (2023). School engagement and burnout profiles in upper secondary school: Associations with perceived learning difficulties. Paper presented at the Oppimis- ja oppimisvaikeustutkijatapaaminen, 5–6 October, Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Juntunen, H., Tuominen, H., Hirvonen, R., Viljaranta, J., Toom, A., & Niemivirta, M. (2023). Stability of motivational profiles, the predictive role of perfectionism, and links to well-being. Paper presented at the 20th Biennial EARLI Conference, 22–26 August, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Kuusi, A., Tuominen, H., & Niemivirta, M. (2023). Students’ perfectionism: Gender differences and development in upper secondary education. Paper presented at the 27th Conference of the JUnior REsearchers of EARLI, 20–21 August, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Polso, K.-M., Tuominen, H., Ihantola, P., & Niemivirta, M. (2023). Networks and dynamics of secondary students’ momentary expectancies, values, costs, and engagement. Paper presented at the 27th Conference of the JUnior REsearchers of EARLI, 20–21 August, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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- News, UEF, “Lukiovuosien haastavuus tulisi huomioida paremmin – opiskelijoiden uupumusta voidaan ehkäistä oikeilla toimenpiteillä”, 31.10.2024, https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/lukiovuosien-haastavuus-tulisi-huomioida-paremmin-opiskelijoiden-uupumusta-voidaan-ehkaista-oikeilla
- News, UEF, “Kasvatustieteellinen tutkimus laajasti esillä Joensuussa osana Sivistyksen teemavuotta”, 25.9.2024, https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/kasvatustieteellinen-tutkimus-laajasti-esilla-joensuussa-osana-sivistyksen-teemavuotta
- News, UEF, “Self-critical perfectionism gnaws on students’ well-being already in lower secondary school”, 2.5.2024, https://www.uef.fi/en/article/self-critical-perfectionism-gnaws-on-students-well-being-already-in-lower-secondary-school
- Editorial, Kasvatus 2/2024, “Opiskeluhuolto sote-uudistuksen jälkeen”, 15.4.2024, https://journal.fi/kasvatus/article/view/144807
- News, UEF, “Yläkoulussa motivaatio eri oppiaineita kohtaan jakautuu sukupuolien mukaan”, 28.2.2024, https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/ylakoulussa-motivaatio-eri-oppiaineita-kohtaan-jakautuu-sukupuolien-mukaan
- Blog post, MoLeWe, Anna Widlund, “Short- and long-term changes in adolescents’ motivational beliefs”, 15.2.2024, https://www.molewe.net/post/short-and-long-term-changes-in-adolescents-motivational-beliefs
- Article, Politiikasta.fi, “Menestyksen tavoittelua vaikka uupuen? Nuorten motivaatio, perfektionismi ja opiskeluhyvinvointi”, 20.11.2023, https://politiikasta.fi/menestyksen-tavoittelua-vaikka-uupuen-nuorten-motivaatio-perfektionismi-ja-opiskeluhyvinvointi/
- Podcast, Yle Radio 1, Sari Valton keskustelusarja, “Irti itsekritiikistä ja perfektionismista!”, 13.6.2023, https://areena.yle.fi/podcastit/1-65630928
- Blog post, MoLeWe, Fiia Söderholm, ”Kohti koko lukio-opintojen kestävää kiinnittymistä – tuen yhteys kouluun kiinnittymisen profiileihin”, 26.4.2023: https://www.molewe.net/post/tuen-yhteys-kouluun-kiinnittymisen-profiileihin
- Toimitus, & Tuominen, H. (2022). Tutkijalta suoraan kuultua: Heta Tuominen, akatemiatutkija Itä-Suomen yliopistosta. Kasvatus, 53(4), 437–440. https://journal.fi/kasvatus/article/view/122483
- Interview, Helsingin Sanomat, 21.9.2022, “Aihetta huoleen”, https://www.hs.fi/hyvinvointi/art-2000009039715.html
- Blog post, MoLeWe, ”Uusi tutkimushanke | New research project”, 21.9.2022, https://www.molewe.net/post/uusi-tutkimushanke-new-research-project
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General upper secondary schools and vocational institutes are welcome to join the study! If your institution is interested in participating in the study, please fill in the registration form or contact the lead researcher directly. Thank you very much!
Keywords
Leaders
Doctoral Researchers
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Anna Kuusi
Doctoral ResearcherSchool of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Philosophical Faculty -
Henriikka Juntunen
Doctoral ResearcherSchool of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Philosophical Faculty
Collaborators at UEF
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Jaana Viljaranta
ProfessorSchool of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Philosophical Faculty -
Fiia Söderholm
Doctoral ResearcherSchool of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Philosophical Faculty -
Anna Maria Rawlings
Postdoctoral ResearcherSchool of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Philosophical Faculty -
Markku Niemivirta
ProfessorSchool of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Philosophical Faculty
Publications
18 items-
Growth trajectories of self-concept and interest in mathematics and language – Individual differences and cross-domain relations
Widlund, Anna; Niemivirta, Markku; Tuominen, Heta; Korhonen, Johan. 2024. Learning and instruction. 91: A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Lower secondary students' perfectionistic profiles: Stability, transitions, and connections with well-being
Kuusi, Anna; Tuominen, Heta; Widlund, Anna; Korhonen, Johan; Niemivirta, Markku. 2024. Learning and individual differences. 110: A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Motivational Profiles in Mathematics - Stability and Links with Educational and Emotional Outcomes
Widlund, Anna; Tuominen, Heta; Korhonen, Johan. 2024. Contemporary educational psychology. 76: A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Opiskeluhuolto sote-uudistuksen jälkeen
Tuominen, Heta; Huttunen, Rauno. 2024. Kasvatus. 55: 111–112 B1 Non-refereed journal articles -
The development of exhaustion, cynicism, and inadequacy in general upper secondary education: perceived and received support, student engagement, and gender as predictors
Söderholm, Fiia; Viljaranta, Jaana; Hirvonen, Riikka; Tuominen, Heta; Lappalainen, Kristiina; Holopainen, Leena. 2024. Scandinavian journal of educational research. [EPub ahead of print 24 Oct 2024]: 1-17 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Developmental trajectories of school-beginners' ability self-concept, intrinsic value and performance in mathematics
Niemivirta, Markku; Tapola, Anna; Tuominen, Heta; Viljaranta, Jaana. 2023. British journal of educational psychology. 2024; 94: 441-459 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Menestyksen tavoittelua vaikka uupuen? Nuorten motivaatio, perfektionismi ja opiskeluhyvinvointi
Tuominen, Heta. 2023. Politiikasta.fi. : . E1 Popularised article, newspaper article -
Student engagement profiles and the role of support in general upper secondary education
Söderholm, Fiia; Viljaranta, Jaana; Tuominen, Heta; Lappalainen, Kristiina; Holopainen, Leena. 2023. Learning and individual differences. 104: A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Tavoitteet ja huolet koronapandemian aikana: Perfektionistiset taipumukset opiskelustressin ja siitä selviämisen selittäjänä
Tuominen, Heta; Hirvonen, Riikka; Juntunen, Henriikka; Viljaranta, Jaana; Niemivirta, Markku. 2023. Kasvatus. 54: 5-22 A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Teachers’ work engagement and burnout profiles: Associations with sense of efficacy and interprofessional collaboration in school
Holmström, Anni; Tuominen, Heta; Laasanen, Miia; Veermans, Marjaana. 2023. Teaching and teacher education. 132: A1 Journal article (refereed), original research