Academic interests
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Sexual health and wellbeing
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Sexual behaviors and habits
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Gender and sexual diversity
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Body image
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Health behaviors and health promotion
Co-founder and director of CENSE – Norwegian Research Centre for Sexual Health
Research
Sexuality in Norway: Sexuality is an important part of the human being. Even though there are important links between sexual health and quality of life, we know too little about sexual health issues and the populations sexual habits. In 2020, the CENSE – Norwegian Research Centre for Sexual Health conducted a large probability-based Sexual Habits Survey. Publications can be found here.
Body image/sexuality: Attitudes towards body hair and hair removal. Body hair removal is a widespread practice, especially among women. While hair removal practices may have potential benefits, they can also be detrimental to people's physical and psychological well-being. The purpose of this study is to test a new scale that has been designed to capture peoples’ perceptions and attitudes towards own body and pubic hair and hair removal practices.
Healthy sexual aging in Europe: Health authorities in European countries are gradually realizing that a growing number of older adults will regard their sexual health and sexual well-being as an important issue, even as a human right. From 2016-2020, researchers at the center led a major international research project about the sexual health of older European adults, with support from the Research Council of Norway.
Background
2020 → Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
2016 – 2020 Ph.D. Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
2014 – 2016 Master of Philosophy in Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
Grants & Awards
2024 - Awarded grant from the Norwegian Directorate of Health: Mental health and quality of life - gender and sexuality diversity (LGBT+). Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: 2 mill NOK
2023 - Awarded grant from the Norwegian Directorate of Health: Mental health and quality of life - gender and sexuality diversity (LGBT+). Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: 1.8 mill NOK
2023 - Awarded grant from the Norwegian Directorate of Health: CENSE – Norwegian Research Centre for Sexual Health. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: 2.7 mill NOK
2023 - Strategic funding grant from the Department of Psychology: Attitudes towards body hair and hair removal. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: 150 000 NOK
2021- Award for the best ECI paper presented at the Symposium “Sexuality in Europe”. Sponsored by Pfizer 25 000 NOK
Other professional experiences
2023 → leading CENSE – Norwegian Research Centre for Sexual Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
2022/23: ethics committee member at the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
2021: completed 120 hours foundation program in teaching and learning at the Centre for Learning, Innovation & Academic Development (LINK), University of Oslo
2019: accomplished leadership workshop at COST Academy in Brussels
2019-23: Management Committee Member of the European Sexual Medicine Network (ESMN; CA18124), representing Norway, Cost European Cooperation in Science & Technology
Teaching
PSY4112 – Sexuality and Sexual Health