Anna Rotkirch
Family sociologist
Perhetutkija Familjeforskare
Research Professor & Director
Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto
Welcome to my website.
I study social relations and wellbeing across the lifespan, often using both social and evolutionary approaches.
My main current research interests are:
- Couple relations in old age and cross-generational exchanges
- Effects of screen use on romantic and family relations
- Childbearing incentives and fertility trends in Finland and Europe
- Friendship (especially friendship in dyads vs. larger groups, and their gender differences)
These topics all currently reshape social life in ageing societies. For instance, since people are having fewer children and living longer the role of siblings and cousins will change, while the importance of grandparents and friends is growing.
I am also involved as PI with several large Finnish data collections, including Generational Transmissions in Finland longitudinal surveys, SHARE Finland survey (part of SHARE-ERIC), the register data FINNFAMILY and FINNUNION, and as senior researcher in Learning from our Past and the MiKarelia database.
I value science popularisation and regularly lecture for lay audiences and write newspaper columns (eg. here). When feasible I combine social and biological approaches to the study of human behaviour, promoting the integration of life history and life course theories in human behavioural sciences.