At the Department of Sociology, the family is studied from several perspectives, focusing both on micro-level processes within families and on the societal level, where family conditions are examined in relation to other social structures such as the working life and welfare policies. Studies include both quantitative and qualitative approaches and is based on various types of data, such as survey data, registry data, and interview material.
Researchers at the department study gender-related practices within families and couples regarding the organization of family life, household and paid work, and household economy. Other areas of study include how people experience the possibility of combining work and family in different country contexts, as well as attitudes toward family and gender, such as non-traditional family forms and the division of labor. Moreover, research includes analyses of how women's and men's health vary in relation to family and employment, as well as demographic issues such as childbirth and divorce.
