Suvi-Maria Saarelainen
Head of School
Associate Professor
ThD, Practical Theology, Psychology of Religion, Qualitative & Narrative studies
School of Theology, Philosophical Faculty
[email protected] | +358 50 467 6975
My research interest is focused on the experience of meaning during/in life changes and transitions of life. My doctoral thesis focused on how emerging adults with cancer appraised their life as meaningful. In addition, I was interested to study the role of spirituality in the coping process. During the post doctoral phase, I am studying meaning in life among the elderly; furthermore, I am scrutinizing how they see gerontechonlgy as part of their care. In our Meaningful Relations -project, the focus is in the experiences of patients and carers going through palliative care at home.
While working as a post doc at the department of applied psychology, Univ. of Huddersfield, UK, I worked in two (ongoing) project. In the first project we are analysing the dyadic interviews of patient and carer during the end-of-life care. Second, we launched a new project focusing on well-being of the post graduate students (PGR).
Visual research methods I found very intriguing. In all of my studies, I have employed visual elements.
Research groups
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Existential Wellbeing 01.01.2021 - -
Impact of Covid-19 to experience of meaning 01.03.2020 - -
Neuro-Ethics and Law Research Team 01.08.2020 -
Projects
Publications
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Well-being support in the Finnish university community: staff reflections on emerging existential dimensions
Morikawa, Anu Pauliina; Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria, 2026, International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 21, 1, 2611272. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Clarifying the Relationship Between Having a Clear Meaning-of-Life Belief and Three Dimensions of Meaning in Life: A Study Among Finnish Religious Professionals
Palmi, Noora; Tervo-Niemelä, Kati; Dezutter, Jessie; Saarelainen, Suvi Maria, 2025, Pastoral psychology, [Epub ahead of print 23 Dec 2025], 1-24. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Cultural effects on sources of meaning: informed by knowledge activation principles and mirror neurons
Abazari, Nader; Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria, 2025, Philosophical psychology, [Epub ahead of print 28 Aug 2025], 1-25. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Meaning in Life: Exploring the Potential of Mythological Narratives in Contemporary Life
Abazari, Nader; Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria, 2025, Culture medicine and psychiatry, [Epub ahead of print 08 August 2025], 1--8. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Reforming the Bond With the Deceased Sibling Through Supernatural Experience After Bereavement
Korkalainen, Milla; Vahakangas, Auli; Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria; Aho, Anna Liisa, 2025, Omega: journal of death and dying, [First published online August 8, 2025], 1-24. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Religious Agency in Finnish Older Adults’ Accounts of Meaning in Life
Toivanen, Heidi; Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria, 2025, Journal of empirical theology, [Online Publication Date: 01 Dec 2025], 1-20. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
COVID-19 distress, sources of meaning, and crisis of meaning in the Finnish context
Ojalammi, Jonna; Peltomäki, Isto; Palmi, Noora; Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria, 2024, Mental health, religion and culture, 27, 1, 71-86. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Chaplains Forming a Meaningful Relationship with Older People with Dementia - Insights to Pastoral Care in Nursing Home Settings
Saarelainen, Suvi-Maaria; Vähäkangas, Auli; Pirhonen, Jari, 2024, Journal of empirical theology, [Epub ahead of print 11 July 2024], 1-19. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Diakonian näkökulma ikäihmisten eksistentiaalisiin kysymyksiin: Åsta Marie Olafsson. Existential Issues and Existential Conversations in Old Age: A Diaconal Approach
Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria, 2024, Diakonian tutkimus, 1, 81. B1 Non-refereed journal articles -
Eksistentiaalisia kysymyksiä maallistumisen paineessa – narratiivinen analyysi pappien työstä hoivakodeissa
Pirhonen, Jari; Saarelainen, Suvi-Maria; Vähäkangas, Auli; Hautsalo, Katja; Pietilä, Ilkka, 2024, Gerontologia, 38, 1, 52-70. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research
