Mirkka Danielsbacka
mirkka.danielsbacka@utu.fi +358 29 450 4052 +358 50 304 9408 |
Family research; social relationships; evolutionary social science; grandparenting
I am professor of Sociology at INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku, Finland. I have a PhD in Finnish and Nordic History (2013) and Social and Public Policy (2016) (University of Helsinki). In my history dissertation, I examined the treatment of prisoners of war in Finland during the Continuation War, and my social and public policy dissertation focused on grandparental investments. I have previously worked at the University of Helsinki and the University of Turku in teaching and research positions, as well as at the Population Research Institute.
My research focuses on interdisciplinary family research, intergenerational relationships, social networks, and how they associate with welbeing of people. I have also examined for example the effects of digitalization on the formation of romantic relationships and on family relationships.
I serve as the director of INVEST international master’s degree programme and teach the “Evolutionary Perspectives” course as well as the master’s thesis seminar. I also supervise doctoral dissertations. Previously, I have taught a wide range of courses in quantitative methods, causal inference, and various topics in family studies.
- Full Siblings Vs. Half Siblings (2017) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Tanskanen A.O., Danielsbacka M.
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Grandparental investment and young children’s cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes in the UK (2017) Tanskanen A.O., Danielsbacka M.
(D4 Published development or research report or study ) - Hamilton’s Rule and Kin Investment (2017) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Hämäläinen H., Tanskanen A.O., Danielsbacka M.
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Helping More Likely with Close Kin than More Distant Kin (2017) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Hämäläinen H., Tanskanen A.O., Danielsbacka M.
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Increased Grandchild Survival (2017) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Tanskanen, A.O., Danielsbacka M.
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Lapsenlapset ja isovanhempien onnellisuus (2017)
- Väestöliitto : Tietovuoto
(D4 Published development or research report or study ) - Maternal Grandmother Invests Most (2017) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Danielsbacka M., Tanskanen A.O.
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Paternal Grandfather Invests Least (2017) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Danielsbacka M., Tanskanen A.O.
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Sibling Conflicts in Full- and Half-Sibling Households in the UK (2017)
- Journal of Biosocial Science
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The “kinship penalty”: Parenthood and in-law conflict in contemporary Finland (2017)
- Evolutionary Psychological Science
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)



