Frida Jonsson

I have a background that falls almost exclusively within the area of public health, spanning across sub-fields such as health-related project management and evaluation (BSc), global health (MSc) and social epidemiology (PhD). In 2023, I was appointed docent in public health. 

Thematically, my interdisciplinary and action-oriented public health research can be summarized under three areas. These should not be seen as mutually exclusive, but as highly interconnected within my various projects. While these areas form the basis of my research, the use of co-creation and collaborative methods constitutes its core.

Research about health and social care systems in sparsely populated areas
So far, my research has within two projects focused on studying access to, and experiences of, health and social care among rural young people as well as on the importance of health innovations to improve the avaliablity of care services in sparsely populated areas. The first project was about understanding what constitues caring landscarpes for rural young people and how sparsely populated areas can ensure that they can live a good life in decent health. The second was about identifying opportunities and challenges with co-creating health and social care services across organisational boundaries in sparsely populated areas.

Research about young people not in employment, educaiton or training (NEETs)
In 2018, I came in contact with a group of NEET young people, which became the starting point for what is currently a large part of my research. Since then, I have led two projects that focused on understanding and improving the situations of NEETs. The first project is a realist evaluation of community-based multicomponent initaitives. This describes how relational welfare is a possible and important way forward to strengthen the abilities of, and conditions for, NEETs to reach goals that they have reason to value through various relational, co-creation and practical strategies. The second project aimed to explore the lived experiences of NEET young people within the context of the the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research to evaluate complex interventions
Evaluating complex interventions focused not only on measuring effects, but on gaining a deeper understanding of how and why policies, processes, systems and services work, lie close to my heart. I have so far conducted two theory-driven evaluations and is involved in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to analyse the importance of social prescribing for reduced loneliness and improved health among older adults.

In conclusion, within the scope of these thematic resarch areas:

• I consider methodologies as means rather than ends in themselves, whereby I use both qualitative and quantitative methods in ways that best answers the aim and research questions.

• I work together with national and international researchers from various disciplines such as sociology, social work, psychology, occupational therapy and cultural geography.

• I work in close collaboration with public and civil society actors at different levels when planning and implementing projects and to discuss and communicate results.