About me
With a doctoral degree in psychology and background in behavioural sciences, I have worked my entire career with questions related to population health and focus on disease prevention and health promotion. Since 2021, I have been the disciplinary lead of public health and head of the Health Promotion group at the Tampere University.
My research focuses on determinants and behavioural factors that influence health and wellbeing as well as implementation and effectiveness of interventions to promote health and prevent chronic disease. I collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams in Finland and internationally, especially in settings with disadvantaged populations. The research projects are typically conducted in the real-world, in close collaboration with stakeholders including beneficiaries (e.g., end-users, customers, patients), professionals and organisations in social and health care sector, educational sector, government, and non-governmental organisations. I also collaborate with private sector especially in eHealth and behaviour change.
Previous collaborations include e.g., type 2 diabetes prevention programmes StopDia Intervention Study in Finland and SMART2D in South Africa, Sweden and Uganda, as well as the Australian NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence Connected Health that focuses on digital technologies for improved chroni disease outcomes. Currently ongoing international projects include e.g., the Kerala Diabetes Prevention Programme, a peer-support programme to prevent type 2 diabetes among adults, and two projects that co-create interventions and their implementation with youth: YiPEE for mental health and Changemaker for preventing overweight and obesity and related chronic disease.
Fields of expertise
My main areas of expertise include behaviour change science with theories, models and frameworks as well as their application to support implementation and effectiveness of evidence-based interventions.
Project links
Latest publications
Clinical and cost-effectiveness of remote-delivered, online lifestyle therapy versus psychotherapy for reducing depression: results from the CALM non-inferiority, randomised trial
O'Neil, A., Perez, J., Young, L. M., John, T., Turner, M., Saunders, D., Mahoney, S., Bryan, M., Ashtree, D. N., Jacka, F. N., Bruscella, C., Pilon, M., Mohebbi, M., Teychenne, M., Rosenbaum, S., Opie, R., Hockey, M., Peric, L., De Araugo, S. & Banker, K. & 20 others, , Aug 2024, In: The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 49, 101142.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Community Control of Hypertension and Diabetes (CoCo-HD) program in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu: a study protocol for a type 3 hybrid trial
Parasuraman, G., Jeemon, P., Thankappan, K. R., Ali, M. K., Mahal, A., McPake, B., Chambers, J., Absetz, P., Thirunavukkarasu, S., Nabil, A. M., Shiby Kripa, S. V., Akshay, P. K., Ayyasamy, L., Nambirajan, M. K., Ramalingam, A., Nagarajan, R., Shrestha, A., Gopal, B., Selvam, J. M. & Haregu, T. & 1 others, , 2024, In: BMC Public Health. 24, 12 p., 2275.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Cross-cultural health psychology: Balancing fidelity and the cultural applicability of behavior change science to improve health in low- and middle-income countries
Absetz, P., Kwasnicka, D. & Oldenburg, B., 2025, APA Handbook of Health Psychology, Volume 1: Foundations and Context of Health Psychology. Schneiderman, N., Smith, T. W. & Anderson, N. B. (eds.). American Psychological Association, Vol. 1. p. 685-705 21 p. (APA Handbooks in Psychology).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Effectiveness of workplace choice architecture modification for healthy eating and daily physical activity
Rantala, E., Vanhatalo, S., Valtanen, M., Lindström, J., Pihlajamäki, J., Poutanen, K., Absetz, P. & Karhunen, L., Apr 2024, In: BMC Public Health. 24, 1, 15 p., 939.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Acceptability of workplace choice architecture modification for healthy behaviours
Rantala, E., Vanhatalo, S., Perez-Cueto, F. J. A., Pihlajamäki, J., Poutanen, K., Karhunen, L. & Absetz, P., Dec 2023, In: BMC Public Health. 23, 1, 22 p., 2451.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
A peer support program results in greater health benefits for peer leaders than other participants: evidence from the Kerala diabetes prevention program
Haregu, T., Aziz, Z., Cao, Y., Sathish, T., Thankappan, K. R., Panniyammakal, J., Absetz, P., Mathews, E., Balachandran, S., Fisher, E. B. & Oldenburg, B., Jun 2023, In: BMC Public Health. 23, 10 p., 1175.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Associations between Engagement with the BitHabit Digital Lifestyle Intervention and Changes in Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors
Liedes, H., Mattila, E., Honka, A., Absetz, P., Aittola, K., Manninen, S., Lintu, N., Schwab, U., Eloranta, A. M., Umer, A., Tilles-Tirkkonen, T., Männikkö, R., Ruotsalainen, I., Van Gils, M., Lindström, J., Lakka, T., Pihlajamäki, J. & Vuorinen, A. L., 18 May 2023, Caring is Sharing - Exploiting the Value in Data for Health and Innovation: Proceedings of MIE 2023. Hagglund, M., Blusi, M., Bonacina, S., Nilsson, L., Madsen, I. C., Pelayo, S., Moen, A., Benis, A., Lindskold, L. & Gallos, P. (eds.). IOS Press, p. 1009-1010 2 p. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics; vol. 302).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review
Immigrants' perspectives on healthy life and healthy lifestyle counseling: a focus group study
Nekouei Marvi Langari, M., Lindström, J., Absetz, P., Laatikainen, T., Pihlajamäki, J., Tilles-Tirkkonen, T. & Turunen, H., 2023, In: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 51, 3, p. 371-380 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Jaetun päätöksenteon vaikutus hoitotuloksiin
Nukari, I., Absetz, P. & Louhiala, P., 2023, In: Duodecim. 139, 12, p. 991-996 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › peer-review
Real-world effectiveness of digital and group-based lifestyle interventions as compared with usual care to reduce type 2 diabetes risk: A stop diabetes pragmatic randomised trial
Lakka, T. A., Aittola, K., Järvelä-Reijonen, E., Tilles-Tirkkonen, T., Männikkö, R., Lintu, N., Karhunen, L., Kolehmainen, M., Harjumaa, M., Mattila, E. M., Järvenpää, R., Ermes, M. J., Mikkonen, S., Martikainen, J., Poutanen, K., Schwab, U., Absetz, P., Lindström, J. & Pihlajamäki, J., Jan 2023, In: The Lancet Regional Health - Europe. 24, 13 p., 100527.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review