Social and cultural gerontology research group
Research group
Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Leaders
In the Social and Cultural Gerontology Research Group, we examine how various social, societal, and cultural factors shape the life course and the lived experiences of older people. Our research covers a wide range of topics related to the life course, ageing, and old age. Key thematic areas include social wellbeing, ageing-in-place, access to services, and life-course transitions. The research group brings together researchers at different stages of their academic careers.
Projects
-
Old-age social exclusion in home care - prevalence, meanings & intervention (SOLDEX) Finished 01.09.2021 - 31.08.2025 -
On the other side of the license? - A biographical and action research on driving cessation and related life change support for older men 01.01.2025 - 31.08.2028 -
GERIT - gerontological social work and complex needs of older adults Finished 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2022 -
Demography and Democracy – Healthy Ageing in a Digital World (HAIDI) Finished 22.08.2022 - 21.08.2025
Leaders
Senior Researchers
-
Hanna Ristolainen
Senior ResearcherDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies -
Marjo Ring
Senior ResearcherDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies -
Riitta-Liisa Kinni
University LecturerDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Post-doctoral Researchers
-
Hanna Varjakoski
Postdoctoral ResearcherDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies -
Teija Makkonen
Postdoctoral ResearcherDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Doctoral Researchers
-
Jenna Peiponen
Doctoral ResearcherDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies -
Catherine Suubi Kayonga
Doctoral ResearcherDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies -
Suvi Ruotsalainen
Visiting ResearcherDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Other group members
-
Minna Heiniluoma [email protected]
-
Aino Asunmaa [email protected]
-
Miia Rolamo [email protected]
-
Sari Koivisto [email protected]
-
Nina Kosunen [email protected]
-
Sirpa Granö [email protected]
Publications
111 items-
Access to rights through relations: Older home care clients’ experiences in Finland
Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen, Anna; Ristolainen, Hanna; Issakainen, Mervi; Tiilikainen, Elisa, 2026, Onati socio-legal series, 16, 4, 1820-1843. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Autoilun loppuminen tuo usein merkittäviä muutoksia ikääntyneen miehen elämään
Varjakoski, Hanna; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Ring, Marjo; Makkonen, Teija, 24.03.2026, Kasvun ja vanhenemisen tutkijat ry:n blogi. E1 Popularised article, newspaper article -
Ikääntyneiden hoivavastuun siirtäminen läheisille – vanhan ratkaisun uudelleenlämmittely?
Lorenz-Wende, Andrea; Ring, Marjo, 2026, Gerontologia, 40, 2, 159-162. B1 Non-refereed journal articles -
Ikääntyneiden kotihoidon ja tukipalveluiden asiakkaiden terveyspalveluiden käyttö
Saarinen, Kalle; Ristolainen, Hanna; Forma, Leena; Toikko, Timo; Tiilikainen , Elisa, 2026, Yhteiskuntapolitiikka, 91, 3, 231-243. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
The impacts of a driving ban: A socio-legal empirical analysis of the everyday experiences of people living with epilepsy in Finland
Lönnroth, Marja; Järvinen, Iina; Teerikangas, Minni; Issakainen, Mervi; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen, Anna; Ervasti, Kaijus, 2026, Onati socio-legal series, [Published 08-07-2026], 1-24. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Yksin asuville muistisairauteen sairastuneille suunnatun ryhmätoiminnan arviointi – monimenetelmäinen pilottitutkimus
Ristolainen, Hanna; Ponsimaa, Mirjami; Siipola, Teija; Tiilikainen, Elisa, 2026, Gerontologia, 40, 2, 119-135. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Association Between Social Support Dimensions and Mortality Among Older Adults: 21-Year Follow-Up of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) Study
Kayonga, Catherine Suubi; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Lisko, Inna; Hall, Annette; Solomon, Alina; Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen, Anna; Kulmala, Jenni; Ngandu, Tiia; Kivipelto, Miia, 2025, Sage open, 15, 2, 1-11. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Association Between Social Support and Quality of Life: Cross-Sectional Study Among Older Adults Receiving Home Care Services in Finland
Kayonga, Catherine Suubi; Ristolainen, Hanna; Lisko, Inna; Mäki- Petäjä-Leinonen, Anna; Tiilikainen, Elisa, 2025, Home health care management and practice, [Epub ahead of print 27 Oct 2025], 1-8. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Challenging Health Citizenship: Digital Health Engagement Among the Oldest Age Groups
Varjakoski, Hanna; Thelandersson, Fredrika; Nielsen, Amalie Søgaard, 2025, Sociology of health and illness, 47, 8, 1-11. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Change, continuity, and decision-making in the transition to old-age retirement from work and day activity services: qualitative longitudinal follow-up
Granö, Sirpa; Tiilikainen, Elisa; Miettinen, Sonja; Kontu, Elina, 2025, International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 20, 1, 2557076. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research