MSc (defended) Siiri-Liisi Kraav works as a Project Researcher in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. She received University of Eastern Finland ‘s Young Researcher Award 2021 on 15th March 2022.  

Her dissertation entitled “Effects of loneliness and social isolation on mortality and morbidity in middle-aged men” was reviewed at the Faculty of Health Sciences on 11 February 2022. The instructors of doctoral research were Professor Soili Lehto from the University of Oslo, Professor Niina Junttila from the University of Turku and Professor Jussi Kauhanen from the University of Eastern Finland. The opponent was Associate Professor Stefan Fors from the Karolinska Institutet and the custos was Professor Tommi Tolmunen from the University of Eastern Finland. 

In her dissertation, Siiri-Liisi was focusing on the health effects of loneliness and social isolation in aging men in Eastern Finland in KIHD (Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study) cohort data. “In my research which was based on cohort and registry data, the key collaborator was the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Eastern Finland,” says Siiri-Liisi. 

According to Siiri-Liisi’s study, loneliness and social isolation were linked to higher mortality rates. “Loneliness predicted higher cancer and heart disease mortality, while social isolation was linked to elevated accident-related mortality,” describes Siiri-Liisi. “Loneliness increased the risk of developing cancer and, moreover, a strong direct link was found between loneliness and the incidence of depression.” 

Following the doctoral dissertation study, Siiri-Liisi has worked in the LANUPS project which focuses on the development of joint mental health services for deployed young people in child protection and youth psychiatry clients and patients. The project is being implemented in cooperation between the University of Turku and the University of Eastern Finland and the Turku University of Applied Sciences.  

Siiri-Liisi is planning to continue his research career as a postdoctoral researcher. 

Dissertation (Siiri-Liisi Kraav, 2021): “Effects of loneliness and social isolation on mortality and morbidity in middle-aged men”  

More information (in Finnish) : https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/msc-siiri-liisi-kraav-vaitos-112-keski-ikaisten-miesten-yksinaisyydella-ja-sosiaalisella   

LANUPS project (in Finnish): https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/lanups-hanke-etsii-keinoja-erityisen-vaativaa-tukea-ja-hoitoa-tarvitsevien-nuorten-auttamiseksi