Seppo Koskinen

Official title: Research Professor
Tel: +358 29 524 8762
E-mail: [email protected]

The population is rapidly ageing, in Finland as well as internationally, and social diversities accentuate and transform. These changes present a great challenge to the social and health services, and to the public policy in general.

Ensuring sustainable development requires valid information on recent changes and future prospects of health, functioning, wellbeing and their determinants in the whole population and its subgroups, and on ways to enhance advances in them.

Some of the required information can be obtained from administrative registers but many essential facts are available only by conducting thorough surveys on large samples representing the population.

My main ambition has been to contribute to the development and use of the Finnish population survey system and other data sources, in order to provide valid information on the past and future development of population health, functioning and wellbeing. It is inspiring and rewarding to generate information which can be used in promoting public health and equality.

Expertise

  • Studying, monitoring and projecting health, functioning and welfare of the population and its subgroups
  • Research, development, support and assessment of interventions aiming to reduce inequalities in health and wellbeing
  • Research and development work focusing on functional capacity of the population and ways to improve it

Primary duties

  • Research professor
  • Planning and making good use of population surveys (e.g. Healthy Finland and its predecessors) at THL – in wide and intensive national and international collaboration
  • Assessing and projecting population’s health, functioning and wellbeing

Education

  • 1994, PhD in Medicine, University of Helsinki
  • 1984, Master of Science (epidemiology), University of London
  • 1983, Master of Political Sciences (sociology/demography), University of Helsinki
  • 1979, Licenciate of Medicine, University of Helsinki

Professional background

  • 2022–, Research Professor, THL
  • 2019–2022, Research Programme Director, Research Professor, THL
  • 2018–, Research Professor, THL
  • 2011–2017, Head of Unit, Research Professor, THL
  • 2010, Head of Department, Research Professor, THL
  • 2009, Head of Unit, Chief Physician, THL
  • 2005–2008, Head of Unit, Chief Physician, National Public Health Institute
  • 1996–2004, Chief Physician, National Public Health Institute
  • 1994–1995, Project Researcher, Academy of Finland
  • 1987–1993, Assistant Lecturer, Demography, University of Helsinki
  • 1983–1987, Research Assistant, Academy of Finland
  • 1982–1983, Health Centre Physician, Vantaa City

Language skills

  • Finnish (native language)
  • English (proficient user)
  • Swedish (independent user)

Current projects

  • Healthy Finland
  • FinHealth 2017
  • FinSote/ATH
  • Health 2000/2011
  • Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study Maamu
  • Survey on Work and Wellbeing among People of Foreign Origin
  • TOIMIA-network
  • COURAGE  and ATHLOS Projects funded by the EU
  • THL’s Morbidity Index – National Health Index
  • Monitoring Disparities in Mortality
  • Finnish Imaging of Degenerative Shoulder Study (FIMAGE)
  • etc.

Professional memberships

  • 2016–, National Health Research Assessment Board, Member
  • 2020–, National Public Health Advisory Board, Deputy Member
  • 2020–, Ethical Board of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Member 

Affiliations

None

Publications and research

Dissertation/Licentiate thesis

PhD Dissertation: Origins of Regional Differences in Mortality from Ischaemic Heart Disease in Finland. National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, Research Reports 41. Gummerus, Jyväskylä 1994.

Scientific articles

402 peer reviewed articles , e.g.

  • Salokangas RKR, Salokangas HRW, From T, Lehtoranta L, Juolevi A, Hietala J, Koskinen S. Gender differences in the association between adverse childhood experiences and premature mortality: A prospective population study. Child Abuse and Neglect 2024;153:106838.
  • Purola P, Koskinen S, Uusitalo H. Impact of vision on generic health-related quality of life - A systematic review. Acta Ophthalmol. 2023 Nov;101(7):717-728. doi: 10.1111/aos.15676. Epub 2023 Apr 9.
  • Kainulainen S, Elovainio M, Laaksonen M, Jääskeläinen T, Rissanen H, Koskinen S. Self-rated work ability as a risk factor for disability retirement. Eur J Public Health. 2023 Jul 12:ckad121. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad121.
  • Heponiemi T, Kainiemi E, Virtanen L, Saukkonen P, Sainio P, Koponen P, Koskinen S. Predicting Internet Use and Digital Competence Among Older Adults Using Performance Tests of Visual, Physical, and Cognitive Functioning: Longitudinal Population-Based Study. J Med Internet Res. 2023 May 5;25:e42287. doi: 10.2196/42287.
  • Palmu R, Koskinen S, Partonen T. Seasonality contributes to depressive, anxiety and alcohol use disorders in the Finnish general adult population. J Affect Disord. 2022 May 18;311:84-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.05.091.
  • Jääskeläinen T, Koponen P, Lundqvist A, Suvisaari J, Järvelin J, Koskinen S. Study protocol for an epidemiological study 'Multimorbidity - identifying the most burdensome patterns, risk factors and potentials to reduce future burden (MOLTO)' based on the Finnish health examination surveys and the ongoing register-based follow-up. BMJ Open. 2022 Jun 2;12(6):e056073. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056073.
  • Elovainio M, Laaksonen M, Sakari K, Aalto AM, Jääskeläinen T, Rissanen H, Koskinen S. Association of short poor work ability measure with increased mortality risk: a prospective multicohort study. BMJ Open. 2022 Dec 22;12(12):e065672. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065672.
  • Peña S, Mäkelä P, Laatikainen T, Härkänen T, Männistö S, Heliövaara M, Koskinen S. Joint effects of alcohol use, smoking and body mass index as an explanation for the alcohol harm paradox: causal mediation analysis of eight cohort studies. Addiction 2021 Aug;116(8):2220-2230. doi: 10.1111/add.15395. Epub 2021 Jan 28. PMID: 33404149
  • Holm M, Sainio P, Parikka S, Koskinen S. The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychosocial Well-being of People with Disabilities. Disabil Health J. 2022 Apr;15(2):101224. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101224. Epub 2021 Oct 19. PMID: 34690076
  • Sainio P, Holm M, Ikonen J, Korhonen M, Nurmi-Koikkalainen P, Parikka S, Skogberg N, Väre A, Koponen P, Koskinen S. Koronapandemian ja sen rajoittamistoimien vaikutukset toimintarajoitteisten ihmisten elämään. Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti 2021;58:235–252.
  • Laatikainen T, Koponen P, Reinikainen J, Tolonen H, Jousilahti P, Suvisaari J, Mattila T, Niiranen T,  Koskinen S. Kansanterveyden seuranta, arviointi ja ennakointi: Mitä tietoa Suomessa saadaan hoitoilmoitusrekistereistä ja mitä väestötutkimuksista? (Monitoring, assessment and prediction of public health: What type of information can be obtained in Finland from care registers and what from population studies?, in Finnish with English summary). Suomen Lääkärilehti 2020;75(:37):1853–1858.
  • Härkänen T, Kuulasmaa K, Sares-Jäske L, JousilahtiP, Peltonen M, Borodulin K, Knekt P, Koskinen S.  Estimating expected life-years and risk factor associations with mortality in Finland: cohort study. BMJ Open 2020 Mar 8;10(3):e033741. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033741.
  • Härkänen T, Sainio P, Stenholm S, Lundqvist A, Valkeinen H, Aromaa A, Koskinen S. Projecting long-term trends in mobility limitations: ilmpact of excess weight, smoking and physical inactivity. J Epidemiol Community Health 2019 May;73(5):443-450.
  • Mehta N, Elo I, Stenholm S, Aromaa A, Heliövaara M, Koskinen S. International differences in the risk of death from smoking and obesity: The case of United States and Finland. SSM Popul Health 2017:3:141 – 152.
  • Miret M, Caballero FF, Olaya B, Koskinen S, Naidoo N, Tobiasz-Adamczyk B, Leonardi M, Haro JM, Chatterji S, Ayuso-Mateos JL. Association of experienced and evaluative well-being with health in nine countries with different income levels: a cross-sectional study. Global Health 2017;13(:1):65
  • NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC, including Koskinen S). Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128.9 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lancet 2017;390(:10113):2627-2642.
  • Tolonen H, Lundqvist A, Jääskeläinen T, Koskinen S, Koponen P. Reasons for non-participation and ways to enhance participation in health examination surveys-the Health 2011 Survey. Eur J Public Health 2017 Oct 1;27(5):909-911.

Articles in Books

217 articles in books , e.g.

  • Koskinen S, Martelin T, Sainio P, Sihvonen A-P, Paalanen L, Stenholm S, Aromaa A. Väestön terveys ja vanheneminen (Public health ang ageing). In: Rantanen T, Kokko K, Sipilä S, Viljanen A, ed. Gerontologia (Gerontology, in Finnish). ISBN 978-952-360-246-5. Kustannus Oy Duodecim, Helsinki 2022, p. 58–87.
  • Koskinen S, Sainio P. Toiminnanvajeiden kehitys iäkkäässä väestössä (Time trends in activity restrictions in the older population). In: Strandberg T, Heikkinen E, ed. Suomiko onnellisen vanhuuden maa? (Is Finland a country of happy old age?). Into Kustannus Oy, Helsinki 2021, p. 62–78. 
  • Parikka S, Koponen P, Koskela T, Härkänen T, Kilpeläinen K, Tarkiainen L, Borodulin K, Lundqvist A, Sääksjärvi K, Martelin T, Koskinen S. Terveyden eriarvoisuus sosioekonomisen aseman ja asuinpaikan mukaan (Health inequalities according to socioeconomic position and regions of residence). In: Sorsa T, ed. Kestävän väestönkehityksen Suomi. Väestöliiton väestöpoliittinen raportti 2020. (Sustanaible population development in Finland. Population policy report of the Family Federation of Finland. In Finnish). Väestöliitto ry. Väestöntutkimuslaitos, Katsauksia E54, Helsinki 2020, p. 91–116.
  • Koskinen S, Koponen P, Laatikainen T. Koettu terveys ja pitkäaikaiset sairaudet (Perceived health and chronic diseases, in Finnish). In: Weiste-Paakkanen A, Lämsä R, Kuusio H, ed. Suomen romaniväestön osallisuus ja hyvinvointi. Romaniväestön hyvinvointitutkimus Roosan perustulokset 2017–2018 (Inclusion and wellbeing of the Finnis Roma Population. Results of the Roma Wellbeing Study 2017–2018). Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Report 15/2018, Helsinki 2018, p. 68–72.
  • Koskinen S, Martelin T, Borodulin K, Lundqvist A, Sääksjärvi K, Koponen P. Terveyden, toimintakyvyn ja niihin vaikuttavien tekijöiden vaihtelu koulutuksen ja asuinalueen mukaan (Differences in health, functioning and their determinants by level of education and region of residence, in Finnish). In: Koponen P, Borodulin K, Lundqvist A, Sääksjärvi K, Koskinen S, ed. Health, functional capacity and welfare in Finland – FinHealth 2017 study. National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Report 4/2018, Helsinki 2018, p. 178–186.
  • Koskinen S, Lundqvist A, Koponen P. Health and diseases. In: Lundqvist A, Mäki-Opas T, ed. Health 2011 Survey – Methods. The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Report 8/2016, Helsinki 2016, p. 118–122.
  • Murto J, Sainio P, Pentala O, Koskela T, Luoma M-L, Koponen P, Kaikkonen R, Koskinen S. Ikääntyneen väestön hyvinvointi, terveys, toimintakyky ja palveluiden saanti – ATH-tutkimuksen tuloksia (Wellbeing, health, functioning and service use – Results of the ATH Study, in Finnish). In: Noro A, Alastalo H, ed. Vanhuspalvelulain 980/2012 toimeenpanon seuranta. Tilanne ennen lain voimaantuloa vuonna 2013. (Monitoring the implementations of the Elderly Services Act. Situation before the entry into force.) THL, Report 13/2014, Helsinki 2014, p. 86–118.
  • Koskinen S, Leemann L, Nenonen T. Koettu terveys ja pitkäaikaissairastavuus (Perceived health and chronic morbidity, in Finnish). In: Kokko R-L, Nenonen T, Martelin T, Koskinen S, ed. Työllisyys, terveys ja hyvinvointi - Paltamon työllistämismallin arviointitutkimus. Hankkeen loppuraportti. (Employment, health and well-being. The Paltamo employment project evaluation study 2009-2013. Final Report, in Finnish with English Summary.) THL. Report 18/2013. Helsinki 2013, p. 89-91.
  • Koskinen S, Martelin T. Suomalaisten terveys, toimintakyky ja terveyserot (Health, functioning and health inequalities in Finland, in Finnish). In: Sihto M, Palosuo H, Topo P, Vuorenkoski L, Leppo K,  ed. Terveyspolitiikan perusta ja käytännöt (Foundations and practices of health policy). THL. Teema 17/2013, Helsinki 2013, p. 56–67.
  • Koskinen S, Melkas T, Vienonen M. Inequalities in health and health care in Finland: a challenge for intersectoral action. The Nordic School of Public Health, NHV Report 1985;5:69–112.

Articles in other journals

Numerous articles in non-scietific journals.

Textbooks

  • Koskinen S, Martelin T, Notkola I-L, Notkola V, Pitkänen K, Jalovaara M, Mäenpää E, Ruokolainen A, Ryynänen M, Söderling I, ed. Suomen väestö (The Finnish Population, in Finnish). ISBN 978-951-662-963-9. Gaudeamus, Helsinki 2007, 328 pages.
  • Valkonen T, Koskinen S, Martelin T, ed. Rekisteriaineistot yhteiskunta- ja terveystutkimuksessa (Register based social and health research, in Finnish). Gaudeamus, Helsinki 1998, 267 pages.

Other books

Editor of 38 books, e.g.

  • Nenonen T, Martelin T, Leemann L, Wessman J, Koskinen S, ed. Työtä Kaikille -työllistämiskokeilun pitkän aikavälin vaikutukset. Hankkeen loppuraportti. (Long-term effects of Work For All employment experiment. Final project report, in Finnish with English Summary.) Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Report 9/2019. Helsinki 2019,144 p.
  • Aromaa A, Heliövaara M, Knekt P, Koskinen. National Health Examination Surveys in Research: From the Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey to the Health Studies of the 2000s. National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Report 8/2019, Helsinki 2019.
  • Koponen P, Borodulin K, Lundqvist A, Sääksjärvi K, Koskinen S, toim. Terveys, toimintakyky ja hyvinvointi Suomessa – FinTerveys 2017 -tutkimus (Health, functional capacity and welfare in Finland – FinHealth 2017 study, in Finnish with English summary). National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Report 4/2018. Helsinki 2018.
  • Kokko R-L, Nenonen T, Martelin T, Koskinen S, toim. Työllisyys, terveys ja hyvinvointi – Paltamon työllistämismallin arviointitutkimus. Hankkeen loppuraportti. (Employment, health and well-being. The Paltamo employment project evaluation study 2009–2013. Final Report, in Finnish with English Summary.) Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos. Raportti 18/2013. Helsinki 2013, 345 s. 
  • Koskinen S, Lundqvist A, Ristiluoma N, ed. Terveys, toimintakyky ja hyvinvointi Suomessa 2011 (Health, functional capacity and welfare in Finland in 2011, in Finnish with English summary). National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Report 68/2012, Helsinki 2012, 290 pages.
  • Castaneda AE, Rask S, Koponen P, Mölsä M, Koskinen S, ed. Maahanmuuttajien terveys ja hyvinvointi. Tutkimus venäläis-, somalialais- ja kurditaustaisista Suomessa (Migrant health and wellbeing. A study of persons of Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin in Finland, in Finnish with English summary). National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Report 61/2012, Helsinki 2012, 397 pages.
  • Palosuo H, Koskinen S, Lahelma E, Kostiainen E, Prättälä R, Martelin T, Ostamo A, Keskimäki I, Sihto M, Linnanmäki E, ed. Health inequalities in Finland. Time trends in socioeconomic health differences 1980–2005. ISBN 978-952-00-2804-6. ISSN 1236-2050. Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2009:9, Helsinki 2009, 240 pages.
  • Gould R, Ilmarinen J, Järvisalo J, Koskinen S, ed. Työkyvyn ulottuvuudet. Terveys 2000 -tutkimuksen tuloksia (Dimensions of work ability. Results from the Health 2000 Survey, in Finnish with English summary). ETK, Kela, KTL and TTL 2006, 366 pages.

Conference presentations

Numerous presentations in international and national conferences.

Honours, distinctions

2015, Special Recognition Award for Life’s Work granted by the Juho Vainio Foundation (20,000 €)

International activities

Participant in numerous international research projects.

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