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Social Work
The research subject social work concerns traditional social issues regarding the welfare of children and families, substance misuse and addiction, ageing, disability, and poverty and other manifestations of structural inequality. Research is carried out using both practical and theoretical knowledge models.
The focus of the research ranges from individuals and groups in vulnerable life situations to societal circumstances influencing people’s conditions and life chances. The research asks questions about how social vulnerability arises, and how to prevent and counteract it. It is about how social work can be organised in terms of interventions and mobilisation, and also about the organisation and impact of welfare and social-political measures. The user perspective, as well as that of social workers and professionals, inform the research.
Research also deals with issues connected to experiences of migration processes, encounters with welfare institutions, as well as the response of social work to migration and diversity.
Other important elements of research are sexuality studies, and issues related to sustainable urban development.
Focus areas
Children, youth and family
The research within this area concerns children, youth, families and parenthood in a post-modern contemporary society, which is characterised by particular complexities and vulnerabilities.
Among other things, we focus on:
- the living conditions of children and families in situations that are both individually and structurally challenging
- everyday life of young people, with a special focus on identity issues and resistance
- on family politics and the conditions for parenthood
- the collaboration between actors who are involved in social child care
Contact person
Professor Lars Plantin
Disability and rehabilitation and social psychiatry
The research within this area concerns physical, mental and intellectual impairments, which can lead to social exclusion. Such impairments can be obstacles to participation due to a lack of opportunities for equal participation, and of societal prerequisites for citizenship and health equality.
An important task for research is to analyse the interaction between the individual and society in, for example, the interplay between the welfare state, civil society and individuals living with disability.
This research addresses aspects such as:
- politics and policy regarding participation, accessibility, influence and everyday life for persons with disability
- assistance and the support of society, the use of aids, and professional decision-making
- understandings and conceptualisations of the body
A closely-related area is social psychiatry with its focus on recovery and psychosocial interventions.
Contacts
Senior lecturer Per Germundsson for questions relating to disability and rehabilitation.
Associate professor Magnus Englander for questions relating to social psychiatry.
Substance abuse and addiction
The research within this area concerns the problems that may arise as a result of drug misuse for individuals and the people closest to them, as well as for society. The control, support and care systems of society are also at the centre of this research.
Most of the research focuses on illegal narcotics, but there is also research on alcohol abuse. Some areas have been elucidated in a number of projects, and those areas are primarily:
- living conditions, life styles and risk taking among persons with drug problems
- social and medical problems as well as mortality among persons who inject drugs
- treatment and care of persons with substance abuse and addiction, within the social services and health care
- drugs policy in Sweden and internationally
The use and misuse of, and the addiction to, drugs need to be analysed from a social perspective and related to social, cultural and political factors. Among other things, the consequences of individualisation, medicalisation and economisation are analysed in our research, with regard to individuals as well as the healthcare system and drugs policy.
The research is often based on an actor perspective, where the individuals’ reasons for drug use and the various functions and areas of use are central. Both qualitative and quantitative methods (interviews, surveys, register data, ethnography) are used, and in our projects we like to cooperate with practitioners, user organisations and persons with drug experiences of their own.
Structural and ecosocial inequality
The research within this area concerns questions at the interface of welfare and poverty issues, social policy, production patterns, working life and labour market, housing and the housing market, as well as migration regimes.
The interest is directed towards unequal conditions and opportunities, and precariousness, and also at how contemporary technologies, such as evaluation and digitalisation, interact with those circumstances. This includes an interest in ecosocial inequality regarding the connection between welfare and resource distribution issues, on the one hand, and ecological and physical as well as social dimensions of sustainability, on the other.
Contact person
Professor Carin Cuadra
Ageing
The research within this area deals with the living conditions of the elderly from the perspectives of gender, ethnicity, migration and embodiment in care, but also with the organisation of both traditional and new forms of elderly care in the wake of demographical changes and increasing differences in social conditions and longevity. Furthermore, the research concerns working conditions and the restructuring of the welfare state, as well as the growing dependence on technological infrastructure, such as digitalisation.
Contact person
Professor Finnur Magnusson
Researchers, publications and projects
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Staff
Maria Afzelius - Senior lecturer
maria.afzelius@mau.se -
Staff
Israa Ahmad - Doctoral student
israa.ahmad@mau.se -
Staff
Åsa Alftberg - Associate Professor
asa.alftberg@mau.se -
Staff
Lisa Andersson - Lecturer/Program director
lisa.andersson@mau.se -
Staff
Catrine Andersson - Associate Professor/Senior lecturer
catrine.andersson@mau.se -
DAStaff
Daniel Ankarloo - Senior lecturer
daniel.ankarloo@mau.se -
Staff
Elisabet Apelmo - Senior lecturer
elisabet.apelmo@mau.se -
Staff
Per Arvidsson - Doctoral student
per.arvidsson@mau.se -
Staff
Sofia Bergholtz - Doctoral student
sofia.bergholtz@mau.se -
Staff
Robin Björkas - Doctoral student
robin.bjorkas@mau.se -
Staff
Annelie Björkhagen Turesson - Program director/Senior lecturer
annelie.bjorkhagen.turesson@mau.se -
Staff
Mikael Boregren - Lecturer
mikael.boregren@mau.se -
Staff
Charlotta Carlström - Senior lecturer
charlotta.carlstrom@mau.se -
Staff
Jonas Christensen - Senior lecturer
jonas.christensen@mau.se -
Staff
Hanna Cinthio - Doctoral student
hanna.cinthio@mau.se -
Staff
Linda Clavier - Senior lecturer
linda.lill@mau.se -
Staff
Carin Cuadra - Professor
carin.cuadra@mau.se -
Staff
Kristina Edman - Doctoral student
kristina.edman@mau.se -
Staff
Hanna Egard - Senior lecturer
hanna.egard@mau.se -
Staff
Magnus Englander - Associate Professor
magnus.englander@mau.se -
Staff
Torbjörn Friberg - Associate Professor
torbjorn.friberg@mau.se -
Staff
Per Germundsson - Associate Professor/Hourly employee
per.germundsson@mau.se -
MGStaff
Maria Grönte - Doctoral student
maria.gronte@mau.se -
Staff
Ylva Grönvall - Doctoral student
ylva.gronvall@mau.se -
Staff
Dana Hagström - Doctoral student
dana.hagstrom@mau.se -
Staff
Kristofer Hansson - Senior lecturer/Assistant head of dep.
kristofer.hansson@mau.se -
Staff
Anna Hart - Doctoral student
anna.hart@mau.se -
MHStaff
Maria Hjortsjö - Senior lecturer/Head of department
maria.hjortsjo@mau.se -
Staff
Juliana Holeksa - Doctoral student
juliana.holeksa@mau.se -
Staff
Charlotta Holmström - Associate Professor
charlotta.holmstrom@mau.se -
Staff
Camilla Ivarsson - Doctoral student
camilla.ivarsson@mau.se -
Staff
Mon Johansson - Senior lecturer
mon.johansson@mau.se -
Staff
Björn Johnson - Hourly employee
bjorn.johnson@mau.se -
KJStaff
Kent Johnsson - Senior lecturer
kent.johnsson@mau.se -
Staff
Marie Karlsson - Senior lecturer
marie.e.karlsson@mau.se -
IKStaff
Ingela Kolfjord - Senior lecturer
ingela.kolfjord@mau.se -
OKStaff
Oskar Krantz - Senior lecturer
oskar.krantz@mau.se -
Staff
Olivia Liahaugen Flensburg - Doctoral student
olivia.liahaugen@mau.se -
Staff
Linnea Lindemann - Doctoral student
linnea.lindemann@mau.se -
Staff
Malin Lindroth - Associate senior lecturer
malin.lindroth@mau.se -
SLStaff
Svante Lingärde - Lecturer
svante.lingarde@mau.se -
Staff
Jack Lukkerz - Lecturer
jack.lukkerz@mau.se -
Staff
Susanna Lundberg - Senior lecturer
susanna.lundberg@mau.se -
Staff
Charlotta Löfgren - Professor
charlotta.lofgren@mau.se -
FMStaff
Finnur Magnusson - Professor
finnur.magnusson@mau.se -
AMStaff
Annica Markström - Doctoral student
annica.markstrom@mau.se -
Staff
Paula Mulinari - Associate Professor/Senior lecturer
paula.mulinari@mau.se -
Staff
Manne Mårtensson - Doctoral student
manne.martensson@mau.se -
Staff
Kettil Nordesjö - Associate Professor/Associate senior lecturer
kettil.nordesjo@mau.se -
CNStaff
Camilla Nordgren - Senior lecturer
camilla.nordgren@mau.se -
Staff
Johan Nordgren - Senior lecturer
johan.nordgren@mau.se -
Staff
Vanna Nordling - Senior lecturer
vanna.nordling@mau.se -
Staff
Maria Norstedt - Senior lecturer
maria.norstedt@mau.se -
FOStaff
Frans Oddner - Lecturer
frans.oddner@mau.se -
Staff
Charlotte Petersson - Senior lecturer/Assistant head of dep.
charlotte.c.petersson@mau.se -
Staff
Lars Plantin - Prodekanus
lars.plantin@mau.se -
Staff
Erica Righard - Associate Professor /Assistant head of dep.
erica.righard@mau.se -
Staff
Kim Ringmar Sylwander - Postdoc
kim.ringmar-sylwander@mau.se -
ARStaff
Annika Rosén - Legal officer
annika.rosen@mau.se -
Staff
Ingrid Runesson - Senior lecturer
ingrid.runesson@mau.se -
IRStaff
Ida Runge - Lecturer
ida.runge@mau.se -
Staff
Tapio Salonen - Professor
tapio.salonen@mau.se -
Staff
Tove Samzelius - Senior lecturer
tove.samzelius@mau.se -
Staff
Valter Sandell-Maury - Doctoral student
valter.sandell-maury@mau.se -
JSStaff
Johanna Sixtensson - Senior lecturer
johanna.sixtensson@mau.se -
Staff
John Stigmar - Lecturer
john.stigmar@mau.se -
Staff
Bengt Svensson - Professor emeritus/emerita
bengt.svensson@mau.se -
Staff
Matilda Svensson Chowdhury - Senior lecturer
matilda.svensson@mau.se -
JTStaff
Jakob Tornberg - Doctoral student
jakob.tornberg@mau.se -
Staff
Angelica Wågby Gräfe - Lecturer
angelica.wagby@mau.se -
CZStaff
Charlotta Zettervall - Senior lecturer
charlotta.zettervall@mau.se
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2023 | Article in journal
Obstacles for identifying sexual harassment in academia: Insights from five European countries
Mika Hagerlid, Aleksandar Štulhofer, Anita Redert, Irma Jakić, Wiebke Schoon, Melina Westermann, Cynthia Deverchin, Hanneke de Graaf, Erick Janssen, Charlotta Löfgren
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2023 | Conference paper
Precarity and vulnerability among homeless single-parent families in Sweden: A critical perspective on policy and practice
Tove Samzelius
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2023 | Article in journal
Hate Crime Investigation and Sentencing in Sweden: What Have We Learned in the Past 20 Years?
Mika Hagerlid, Görel Granström
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2023 | Chapter in book
Kuka keksi rakkauden? Sosiaalityö ja siirtolaisten oikeudellisten asemien moninaistumisen tutkiminen
Valter Sandell-Maury
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2023 | Conference paper
Precarious inclusion in the Nordic welfare state: intermediation practices among social workers and associational volunteers in Helsinki and Malmö
Valter Sandell-Maury
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2023 | Conference paper
How thick is the firewall? Social work, migration, and the governance of access to social protection in Malmö and Helsinki
Valter Sandell-Maury
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2023 | Chapter in book
Ungas sexuella villkor i en digitaliserad värld
Kim Ringmar Sylwander
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2023 | Article in journal
Preventing Relapse into Drug Crime through Motivational Talks at a Drug Scene in Stockholm
Mia-Maria Magnusson
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2023 | Article in journal
Predicting Gun Violence in Stockholm, Sweden, Using Sociodemographics, Crime and Drug Market Locations
Mia-Maria Magnusson
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2023 | Article, book review
Book review of Herz, Marcus and Lalander, Philip 2021. Social Work, Young Migrants and the Act of Listening: Becoming an Unaccompanied Child . London: Routledge. 177 pp
Jacob Lind
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Research project
Working with the updated sexuality education directives: A process-oriented practice-based study in a Swedish municipality
kim.ringmar-sylwander@mau.se -
Research project
Neutralpositive Malmö
carin.cuadra@mau.se -
Research project
Changed sexual practices and relationships when sexually transmitted infections become resistant to antibiotics? - a postdoc study focusing...
kristofer.hansson@mau.se -
Research project
Growing up in illegality: Young adults’ life histories about the impact of a childhood lived under a long-lasting threat of deportation...
jacob.lind@mau.se -
Research project
Fatherhood following experiences of child sexual abuse
charlotte.c.petersson@mau.se -
Research project
Young LGBT+ people in state care
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Research project
Being young and living with inflammatory bowel disease - an international perspective
ann-cathrine.bramhagen@mau.se -
Research project
Alternative communication in elderly care settings
dana.hagstrom@mau.se -
Research project
Experiences of involuntary childlessness during the Covid-19 pandemic
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Research project
On-going research on living conditions and social initiatives in Malmö's marginalised housing areas
martin.grander@mau.se -
Research project
Child-to-parent violence - a cross-sectional study
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Research project
Reflections regarding sexual experiences and boundaries of young adults with intellectual disability
anna.hart@mau.se -
Research project | DOCTORAL PROJECT
Youth substance abuse, sexual health and the social services
robin.bjorkas@mau.se -
Research project
"A hand appeared suddenly” – Experiences and reflections of sexual harassment among students and PhD-students
mika.hagerlid@mau.se -
Research project
New infidelities? Life stories on infidelity 1960-2020
catrine.andersson@mau.se -
Research project
Housing and Welfare Research Network
tapio.salonen@mau.se -
Research project
Avoidable Deaths? The Politics of Intellectually Disabled People's Life Expectancy
matilda.svensson@mau.se -
Research project
Being young, with migration experiences and identifying as an LGBTQ+ person
camilla.ivarsson@mau.se -
Research project
Children’s involvement in supportive and therapeutic encounters
kristina.edman@mau.se -
Research project
Public Housing and Social Mix in Practice
martin.grander@mau.se -
Research project
Dance and young people with disabilities: A study on visions and strategies in inclusive dance
elisabet.apelmo@mau.se -
Research project
The Purchase of Sex – Meanings, Vulnerabilities and Welfare Initiatives
ylva.gronvall@mau.se -
Research project
Polyamory – relationships, family and everyday life beyond norms of coupledom
catrine.andersson@mau.se -
Research project
Female genital cutting and sexuality
camilla.palm@mau.se
Research environments
Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies (CSS)

The Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies carries out multidisciplinary research on sexuality from social science, humanistic, medical and clinical perspectives. Our aim is to develop and stimulate faculty-wide research in sexology and sexuality studies, and also to strengthen national and international research collaboration within the field.
Malmö Institute for Studies of Migration, Diversity and Welfare (MIM)

Malmö Institute for Studies of Migration, Diversity and Welfare (MIM) is an international research centre with a multidisciplinary profile and a strong international presence.
PhD studies
Malmö University offers PhD studies in Social work.