Raija-Leena Punamäki-Gitai

Raija-Leena Punamäki, PhD, is a psychologist and professor emerita at Tampere University, Finland, specializing in mental health, trauma and child and adolescent development. The mental health research focuses on therapeutic interventions in families with risks of substance abuse and psychiatric distress. Further studies involve impacts of war trauma on infant and child emotional and cognitive development, maternal mental health and early dyadic interaction. Of special interest are consequences of mothers' prenatal exposure to toxic, teratogen and carcinogen heavy metals, used in modern weaponry, on infant health and development, and creation of early effective interventions. The role of attachment relationships is analysed in intergenerational transmission of trauma. Developmental research focuses on medical and psychological determinants of socio-emotional and psychophysiologial development in middle childhood and adolescence. The translational research focuses on effectiveness of psychosocial school-based interventions among trauma-affected children and adolescents, as well as the treatment effectiveness among survivors torture and other human right abuse. The research on mother-infant dyads and psychosocial trauma interventions in war conditions is a cooperation with Palestinian, Kurdish and European colleagues. 

The chair of the Finish Society of Traumatic Stress. https://psykotrauma.fi/

Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. https://www.acadsci.fi/en/

Member of the Nordic Network for Research on Refugee Children, and the Finnish Psychologist for Social Responsibility 

(1) Impact of traumatic experiences on children's development and family mental health, and the role of attachment relationships; (2) Contribution of early family experiences to children's mental health and emotional-social development; (3) Meaning of first year of life: psychological, social and medical factors; (4) Preventing mental health problems in conditions of war and violence and effectiveness of school-based psychosocial interventions and therapies in improving refugee youth wellbeing; (5) Parenting and early childhood development in immigrant families: cultural, social and psychophysiological processes; (6) Infant emotional, social, and sensorimotor development in conditions war and vioelnce, (7) Human rights of infants: Impacts of teratogen, toxicant and carcinogene heavy metals in war weapons on infant and mother health and development; (8) Auditory analysis of lullabies and content and emotional valence of infant-directe singing (lullabies), them predicting mother-infant interaction and infant sensorimotor and emotion development; (i) Baby crying: cultural, psychological and social explaiing factors; (9) Effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for drug dependent mothers: mental health, early mother-infant interaction, attachment and infant development; (10) Association between fetal drug exposure and social-cognitive, emotion and psychophysiological development in middle childhood; (11) Predictors of adolescent attachment and implications for mental health and social relationships.

Faculty of Social Sciences/Wellbeing Sciences/Psychology

Horizon 2020, EU. Research and Innovation Framework Programme, 2018-2021; Academy of Finland, 2017–2021; Juho Vainion Säätiö, 2017-2018; Alkoholitutkimussäätiö, 2013-2015; Jacobs Foundation, 2015-2019

A Peer-reviewed scientific articles 2014-2022

1. Punamäki, R.L. (2014). Mental health and development among children living in violent conditions: underlying mechanisms for promoting peace. In P. Britto, J.F. Leckman, C. Panter–Brick, and R. Salah (Eds.), Pathways to Peace: The Transformative Power of Children and Families. Strüngmann Forum Reports, vol 15, J Lupp, series ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 

2. Mölsä, M., Punamäki, R.L., Tiilikainen, M., Saarni, S., & Honkasalo, M.L. (2014). Prevalence and risk factors of mental health and somatic problems among elderly Somali refugees in Finland. Transcultural Psychiatry, 51(4):499-525. doi: 10.1177/1363461514526630 

3. Punamäki, R.L., Belt, R.H., & Posa, T. (2014). Emotions during transition to parenthood among substance–abusing mothers: intervention effects on valence, intensity and content. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 31 (3), 222–224. doi: 10.1080/02646838. 2013.803046

4. Kuittinen, S. Mölsä, M., Tiilikainen, M., Saarni, S., Honkasalo, M.L., & Punamäki, R.L. (2014). Depressive symptoms and risk factors for depression among older Somali refugees and native Finns. International Journal of Cultural Psychology, 2013 2014, doi: 10.1177/0022022114543519

5. Lindblom, J., Flykt, M., Tolvanen, A. Vänskä, M., Tiitinen, A., Tulppala, M., & Punamäki, R.L. (2014). Complex family system trajectories from pregnancy to child’s first year. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76, 796–807. doi: 10.1111/jomf.12128 

6. Flykt, M., Palosaari, E., Lindblom, J., Vänskä, M., Poikkeus, P., Repokari, L., Tiitinen, A., Tulppala, M., & Punamäki, R.L. (2014). What explains violated expectations of parent–child relationship in transition to parenthood? Journal of Family Psychology, 28(2), 148-159. doi: 10.1037/a0036050

7. Ononogbu , S., Nygård, C-H., Wallenius, M., Punamäki, R.L., Saarni, L., & Lindholm, H. (2014). Association between information and communication technology (ICT) usage and the quality of sleep among school-aged children. Sleep Disorders, 315808. doi: 10.1155/2014/ 315808

8. Punamäki, R. L., Peltonen, K., Diab, M. & Qouta, S. (2014). Psychosocial intervention and emotion regulation among children affected by war: Randomized control trial effects. Traumatology: An International Journal, 20(4), 241-252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0099856 

9. Turunen, T., Haravuori, H, L. Punamäki R.L, & Marttunen, M., & (2014). The role of attachmentin recovery of school shooting trauma. European Journal of Psychotraumatology,5, 22728 http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.22728

10. Turunen, T., Haravuori, H. L., Marttunen, M., & Punamäki R.L (2014). A psychosocial aftercare model for youths and families after a school shooting: Organization, implementation and users’ perceptions, European Journal of Psychotraumatology,5, 23079. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ ejpt.v5.23079

11. Peltonen, K., Punamäki, R.L., Diab, M. & Qouta, S. (2014). Resilience among children in war: The role of multilevel social factors. Traumatology: An International Journal , 20(4) 232-240, DOI: http://dx. doi.org/10.1037/h0099830

12. Poikkeus, P., Saisto, T., Punamäki, R.L., Unkila-Kallio, L., Flykt, M., Wilska, S., Repokari, L., Tiitinen, A., & Tulppala, M. (2014). The birth experience of women conceiving with assisted reproduction: A prospective multicentre study. ACTA Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, DOI10.1111/aogs.12440

13. Punamaki, R. L., Palosaari, E., Diab, M., Peltonen, K., & Qouta, S. R. (2014). Trajectories of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) after major war among Palestinian children: Trauma, family- and child-related predictors. Journal of Affective Disorder, 172C, 133-140. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.09.021

14. Sezgin, A. U., & Punamaki, R. L. (2014). Perceived changes in social relations after earthquake trauma among Eastern Anatolian women: Associated factors and mental health consequences. Stress and Health, doi: 10.1002/smi.2629

15. Björklund, K., Liski, A., Samposalo, H., Lindblom, J., Hella, J., Huhtinen, H., Punamäki, R.L., & Santalahti, P. (2014). "Together at school"-a school-based intervention program to promote socio-emotional skills and mental health in children: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health, 14, 1042. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1042.

16. Turunen, T., & Punamäki, R–L. (2014). Acute and long–term psychosocial support after school shooting in Finland: Trauma theoretical and practical aspects, Victims and Violence,29(3), 476-491. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-12-00059

17. Turunen, T., Punamäki, R–L., Suomalainen, H., & Marttunen, M. (2014). A psychosocial aftercare model for youths and families after a school shooting trauma: Organization, implementation and perceptions. Omega. Journal of Death and Dying, 

18. Schubert, C., & Punamäki, R.L. (2015) Torture and PTSD: prevalence, sequelae, protective factors, and therapy. Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, eds. (C. R. Martin, V. R. Preedy, & V. Patel. Heidelberg: Springer International Publishing. ISBN: 978-3-319-08613-2 . Doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2

19. Diab, M., Peltonen, K., Qouta, S. R., Palosaari, E., & Punamaki, R. L. (2015). Effectiveness of psychosocial intervention enhancing resilience among war-affected children and the moderating role of family factors. Child Abuse Neglect, 40, 24-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.12.002

20. Palosaari, E., Punamaki, R. L., Peltonen, K., Diab, M., & Qouta, S. R. (2015). Negative social relationships predict posttraumatic stress symptoms among war-affected children via posttraumatic cognitions. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, DOI: 10.1007/s10802-015-0070-3

21. Sezgin, A. U., & Punamaki, R. L. (2015). Women’s disaster-related mental health: To leaving or not to leave after an earthquake? Traumatology: International Journal, 22 (1), 40-45. doi: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1037/trm0000055

22. Thabet, A.A.M, Abu Tawahina, A., Punamäki, R.L., & Vostanis P. (2015). Prevalence and mental health function of resilience in condition of military siege and violence in a Palestinian community sample. Journal of Psychiatry, 18 (3), doi:10.4172/psychiatry.1000274

23. Thabet, A. A., Tawahina, A. A., Punamäki, R. L., & Vostanis, P. (2015). Trauma, PTSD, and traumatic grief among Palestinian children. SM Journal of Community Medicine, 1(3), 1011-1019.

24. Sälevaara, M., Punamäki, R.L., Poikkeus, P., Flykt, M., Tulppala, M., & Tiitinen, A. (2016). Fear and experience of child birth among women who conceived with donated occytes: A prospective cohort study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, , DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12888 The mental health of mothers and fathers during pregnancy and early parenthood after successful oocyte donation treatment: a one-year prospective study

25. Vänskä, M., Punamäki, R.L., Lindblom, J., Tolvanen, A., Flykt, M., Unkila-Kallio, L., Tulppala, M., & Tiitinen, A. (2015). Timing of early maternal mental health and child cortisol regulation. Infant and Child Development, 25(6), 461-483. DOI: 10.1002/icd.1948.

26. Lindblom, J., Peltola, M., Vänskä, M., Hietanen, J., Laakso, A., Tiitinen, A., Tulppala, M., & Punamäki, R.L. (2015). Early family system types predict children’s emotional attention biases at school age. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 1-12. DOI: 10.1177/01650254156208560

27. Lindblom, J., Peltola, M., Vänskä, M., Flykt, M., Tulppala, M., Tiitinen, A., & Punamäki, R.L. (2016). From early family systems to internalizing symptoms: The role of emotion regulation and peer relations. Journal of Family Psychology, 76(4), 796-807 doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12128 

28. Kuittinen, S., Mölsä, M., Punamäki, R-L., Tiilikainen, M., & Honkasalo, M-L. (2017). Causal attributions of mental health problems and depressive symptoms among older Somali refugees in Finland. Transcultural Psychiatry, doi: 10.1177/1363461516689003

29. Schubert, C.C., & Punamäki, R.L. (2016). Posttraumatic nightmares of traumatized refugees: Dream work integrating cultural values. Dreaming: International Journal, 26,( 1), 10–28, 1053-0797/16/$12.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/drm000002 

30. Isosävi, S., Flykt, M., Belt, R., Posa, T., Kuittinen, S., Puura, K., & Punamaki, R. L. (2016). Attachment representations among substance-abusing women in transition to motherhood: implications for prenatal emotions and mother-infant interaction. Attachment and Human Development, 18(4), 391-417. doi: 10.1080/14616734.2016.1151904

31. Mölsä, M., Kuittinen, S., Tiilikainen, M., Honkasalo, M.L. & Punamäki, R.L. (2016). Mental health among older refugees: The role of trauma, discrimination, and religiousness. Aging and Mental Heatlh DOI:10.1080/13607863.2016.1165183

32. Vänskä, M., Punamäki, R-L., Tolvanen, A., Lindblom, J., Flykt, M., Unkila-Kallio, L., Tulppala, M., & Tiitinen, A. (2016). Paternal mental health trajectory classes and early fathering experiences: Prospective study on a normative and formerly infertile sample. International Journal of Behavioral Development. DOI:10.1177/0165025416654301.

33. Vänskä, M., Punamäki, R.-L., Lindblom, J., Tolvanen, A., Flykt, M., Unkila-Kallio, L., Tulppala, M., & Tiitinen, A. (2016). Parental mental health predicts children’s development at school age. Family Relations. DOI: 10.1111/fare.12260

34. Diab, M., Punamäki, R.L., Qouta, S.R., Palosaari, E., & Peltonen, K. (2017). Can functional emotion regulation protect children’s mental health from war trauma? A Palestinian study.

International Journal of Psychology, doi: 10.1002/ijop.12427

35. Eloranta, S., Peltonen, K., Qouta, S.R. & Punamäki,. R.L. (2016). The role of attachment and emotion regulation in the psychosocial intervention among war-affected children. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma 10(4), 301-314. doi 10.1007/s40653-016-0115-y

36. Qouta, S.R., Peltonen, Diab, S.Y., Anttila, S., Palosaari, E., & Punamäki, R.L. (2016). Psychosocial intervention and dreaming among war-affected Palestinian children. Dreaming: International Journal 26(2) 2016-31753-001

37. Punamäki, R.L., Tiitinen, A., Lindblom, J., Unkila-Kallio, L., Flykt, M., Vänskä, M., Poikkeus, P., & Tulppala, M. (2016). Mental health and developmental outcomes for children born after ART: a comparative prospective study on child gender and treatment type. Human Reproduction, 31 (1), 100–107, doi:10.1093/humrep/dev273

38. Sälevaara, M., Punamäki, R.L., Poikkeus, P., Flykt, M., Tulppala, M., & Tiitinen, A. (2016). Fear and experience of child birth among women who conceived with donated occytes: A prospective cohort study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 95(7), 755-762, doi: 10.1111/ aogs.12888

39. Caserta, T. A., Punamäki, R-L. , & Pirttilä-Backman, A-M. (2016). The buffering role of social support on the psychosocial wellbeing of orphans in Rwanda. Social Development, 26(1), 204-224. doi: 10.1111/sode.12188

40. Caserta, T. A., Punamäki, R-L. , & Pirttilä-Backman, A-M.. (2016). The association between the psychosocial well-being of orphans and the living environments: A case of Rwandan. Child & Family Social Work, doi:10.1111/cfs.12308

41. Caserta, T. A., Pirttilä-Backman, A-M., & Punamäki, R-L. (2016).The role of stigma and social marginalization on psychosocial well-being of orphans in Rwanda. Journal of AIDs Care. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2016.1147012

42. Kiviruusu, O. , Björklund , K., Koskinen, H-L., Liski , A. , Lindblom , J., Kuoppamäki, H., Alasuvanto, P., Ojala, T., Samposalo, H., Harmes, N., Hemminki, E., Punamäki, R-L., Sund, R.T. & Santalahti, P. (2016). Short-term effects of the "Together at School" intervention program on children's socio-emotional skills: a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology, 4, 27-31.doi;10.1186/s40359-016-0133-4

43. Lindblom, J., Flykt, M., Tolvanen, A. Vänskä, M., Tiitinen, A., Tulppala, M., & Punamäki, R.L. (2016). Early family relationships predict children’s emotion regulation and defense mechanisms. Sage Open, 1-18, DOI: 10.1177/2158244016681393  

44. Punamäki, R.L. (2016). Transition to motherhood in life-endangering environments. Guest Editorial. International Journal of Birth & Parent Education, 3(4), 1-2.

45. Kangaslampi, S., Peltonen, K., Qouta, S., & Punamäki, R.L. (2016). Psychosocial group intervention among war-affected children: An analysis of changes in posttraumatic cognitions. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29 (4), 546-555. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jts.22149 

46. Kuittinen, S., Garcia-Valesque, R., Punamäki, R.L., Castaneda, A., Rask, S., & Suvisaari, J. (2016). Construct validity of the HSCL-25 and SCL-90-Somatization Scales among Russian, Somali, and Kurdish Origin Migrants in Finland. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17542863.2016.1244213

47. Lindblom, J., Peltola, M., Vänskä, M., Hietanen, J., Laakso, A., Tiitinen, A., Tulppala, M., & Puanmäki, R.L. (2017). Early family system types predict children’s emotional attention biases at school age. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 41(2), 245-256. doi: 10.1177/0165025415620856

48. Punamäki, R.L. Diab, S.Y., Isosävi, S., Kuittinen, S., & Qouta, S.R. (2017). Maternal pre- and postnatal mental health and infant wellbeing in conditions of war and military violence: The Gaza Infant Study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 10(2), 144-153. doi.org/10.1037/tra0000275 

49. Isosävi, S., Diab, S.Y., Kangaslampi, S., Qouta, S.R., Puura, K., Kuittinen, S., & Punamäki, R.L. (2017). Maternal trauma affects prenatal mental health and infant stress regulation among Palestinian dyads. Infant Mental Health Journal, 38(5), 617-633. DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21658

50. Nyarko, F., & Punamäki, R.L. (2017) Forgiveness among young adult war survivors in African context: Cultural and psychological aspects. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 23(3), 162-173. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pac0000245.

51. Manduca, P., Diab, S.Y., Qouta, S.R., Al Baragon, N., & Punamäki, R.L. (2017). A cross-sectional study of the relationship between the exposure of pregnant women to military attacks in 2014 in Gaza and the load of heavy-metal contaminants in the hair of mothers and newborns. British Medical Journal Open. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014035 

52. Peltonen, K., Kangaslampi, S., Qouta, S., & Punamäki, R.L.(2017). Trauma and autobiographical memory: contents and determinants of earliest memories among war-affected Palestinian children. Memory, 10.1080/09658211.2017.1303073  

53. Diab, S.Y., Qouta, S.R., Isosävi, S., Kuittinen, S., & Punamäki, R.L. (2017). The protective role of maternal posttraumatic growth and cognitive trauma processing among Palestinian mothers and infants. Infant Behavior and Development, 50, 284–299. doi 10.1016/j.infbeh .2017.05.008 

54. Punamäki, R.L. Isosävi, S., Qouta, S.R., Kuittinen, S., & Diab, S.Y. (2017) War trauma and maternal-fetal attachment predicting maternal mental health, infant development and dyadic interaction in Palestinian families. Attachment and Human Development, https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2017.1330833  

55. Mölsä, M., Tiilikainen, M., & Punamäki, R.L. (2017), Usage of healthcare services and preference for mental healthcare among older Somali immigrants in Finland. Ethnicity & Health, 10.1080/13557858.2017.1346182

56. Peltonen, K., Kangaslampi, S., Qouta, S., XX & Punamäki, R.L. (2017). Peritraumatic dissociation predicts posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms via dysfunctional trauma-related memory among war-affected children. European Journal of Psychotrauma, 8. 10.1080/20008198.2017.1375828

57. Al Baragon, N., Abu Abadi, D., Abdallah, H., Abu Hamad, G., Abu Mosa, T., Baloushah, S., Miqdad, H., Salah, A., El Shawwa, R., Diab, S.Y., Qouta, S.R., Punamäki, R.L. & Manduca, P. (2017).Changes in outcomes of pregnancies in Gaza from 2011 to 2016; relationship with environmental changes and load of heavy metals in mothers and newborns. Reproductive Toxicology, Reproductive Toxicology, 72,41-42.doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.repro tox.2017.06.163

58. Punamäki, R.L., Qouta, S., & Peltonen, K. (2018). Family systems approach to attachment relations, war trauma and mental health among Palestinian children and parents. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8, 1439649 doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2018.1439649

59. Diab, S.Y., Guillaime, M., & Punamäki, R.L., (2018). Ecological approach to academic achievement in war and military violence: Mediating and moderating role of school, family, and child characteristics. The Elementary School Journal, 119, 1-28. 10.1086/698730

60. Schubert, C., Punamäki, R.L., Castaneda, A., & Suvisaari, J. (2018). Trauma, psychosocial factors and help seeking behavior in three immigrant groups in Finland. Journal of Behavioral Health Studies, 1–18. Doi:.10.1007/s11414-018-9587-x

61. Sälevaara, M., Punamäki, R.L., Poikkeus, P., Flykt, M., Tulppala, M., & Tiitinen, A. (2018). The mental health of mothers and fathers during pregnancy and early parenthood after successful oocyte donation treatment: a one-year prospective study. Scandinavia 

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, , DOI - 10.1111/aogs.13421

62. Salo, S., Palosaari, E., Flykt, M., Punamäki, R-L, Biringen, Z., & Pajulo, M.(2018). Prenatal emotional availability, reflective functioning, adult attachment among depressed mothers. Infant Mental Health (In press)

63. Lunden, M., Punamäki, R.L., & Silven, M. (2018). Children’s psychological adjustment in dual- and single-ethnic families: Coregulation, sosialization values andand emotion regulation in a 7-year follow-up. Infant and Child Development,e2120 /doi.org/10.1002/icd.2120.

64. Purgato, M., Gross, A. L., Betancourt, T., Bolton, P., Bonetto, C., Gastaldon, C., Gordon, J., O’Callaghan, P., Papola, D., Peltonen, K., Punamäki, R.L., Richards, J., Staples, J.K., Unterhitzenberger, J., van Ommeren, M., de Jong, J., Jordans, M.J.D., Tol, W.A., & Barbui, C. (2018). Focused psychosocial interventions for children in low-resource humanitarian settings: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health, 6(4), e390-e400. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30046-9

65. Diab, S.Y., Palosaari, E., & Punamäki, R.L. (2018). Society, individual, family, and school factors contributing to child mental health in war: the ecological-theory perspective. Child Abuse and Neglect, 84, 205-216, doi.org, 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.07.033

66. Dalgaard, N., Diab, S.Y., Montgomery, E., Qouta, S.R., & Punamäki., R.L. (2019) Is silence about trauma harmful for children’s mental health? Transgenerational communication in Palestinian Families. Transcultural Psychiatry 1-30. doi: 10.1177/1363461518824430 

67. Lahti, K., Vänskä, M., Qouta, S., Diab, S.Y., Perko, K., & Punamäki, R.L. (2019). Maternal experience of their infants’ crying in the context of maternal war trauma: Determinants and consequences. Infant Mental Health Journal, 40(2), 186-203, doi: 10.1002/imhj.21768

68. Vänskä, M., Diab, S.Y., Perko, K., Qouta, S.R., Al Baragon, N., Myöhänen, A., Punamäki, & R.L. Manduca, P., (2019). Toxic environment of war: Maternal prenatal heavy metal load predicts infant emotional development. Infant Behavior and Development, 55, 1-9. doi.org, 10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.01.002 

69. Isosävi, S., Diab, S., Qouta, S., Kangaslampi, S., Sleed, M., Kuittinen, S., Puura, K. & Punamäki, R-L.(2019). Exploring the nature and associations of war traumatized mothers’ high-risk mental representations of herself and her child. Infant Mental Health Journal, 

70. Isosävi, S., Wahlström, J., Flykt, M., Heiskanen, L., Finger, B., Puura, K., & Punamäki, R.L. (2019).Dysregulated motherhood: Exploring the risk features in a mother’s caregiving representations, Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 18(1), 29-57doi:10.1080/15289168.2019.1568032 

71. Nyarko, F., & Punamäki, R.L. (2019). Content and meaning of war experiences: A qualitative study among young refugees in Africa. Transcultural Psychiatry, doi: 10.1177/1363461 516689003

72. Punamäki, R.L. (2019) Developmental effects of political violence: An Attachment theory approach. In Greenbaum, C. W., Haj-Yahia, M. M., & Hamilton, C. (Eds.) Handbook of Political Violence and Children: Psychosocial Effects, Intervention, and Prevention Policy. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

73. Sezgin, U., & Punamäki, R.L. (2019). Type of traumatic events, mental health problems, and posttraumatic cognitions among Eastern Anatolian women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, (2019) Jul 4:886260519858385. doi: 10.1177/0886260519858385

74. Sezgin, U., & Punamäki, R.L. (2019). Impacts of early marriage and adolescent pregnancy on mental and somatic health: The role of partner violence. Archives of Women Mental Health, doi:10.1007/s00737-019-00960-w. 

75. Punamäki, R.L, Vänskä, M., Perko, K., Qouta, S., & Diab, S.Y. (2019). Vocal emotion expression in infant-directed singing: the role of war trauma- and mental health and impacts on infant development Infant and Child Development  

76. Kankaanpää, S., Isosävi, S., Diab, S.Y., Qouta, S.R., & Punamäki, R.L. (2019) War and parenting beliefs: exploring Palestinian mothers’ ethnotheories and socialization goals. Child and Family Studies 

77. Punamäki, R.L, Qouta, S., & Diab, S.Y. (2019). The role of maternal attachment in mental health and dyadic relationships in war trauma. Heliyon   

78. Salo, S.J., Flykt, M., Isosävi, S., Punamäki, R.L., Kallard, M., Biringen, Z., & Pajulo, M. (2019). Validating an observational measure of prenatal emotional availability among mothers with depressive symptoms. Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health,34(1),55-77.

 79. Salo, S.J., Flykt, M., Mäkelä, J., Kallard, M., Biringen, Z., Pajulo, M., & Punamäki, R.L. (2019). The effectiveness of Nurture- and Play: A mentalization-based parenting group intervention for prenatally depressed mothers. Primary Health Care Research & Development

80. Ranta, M., Punamäki, R.L., Clow, A. & Salmela-Aro, K. (2019). The economic stress model in emerging adulthood: The role of social relationships and financial capability. Journal of Emerging Adulthood, doi: 10.1177/2167696819893574 

81. Nyarko, F., & Punamäki, R.L.(2019). Future orientation of youth with history of war trauma: A qualitative study in African context. Medicine, Conflict and Survival, doi:10.1080/13623699.2019.1706879

82. de Haan, A., Landolt, M. A., Fried, E. I., Kleinke, K., Alisic, E., Bryant, R., Claxton, J., Diehle, J., Lindauer, R., de Roos,C., Halligan, S.L., Hiller, R., Kristensen, C.H., Lobo, B.O.M., Volkmann, N.M., Marsac, M., Barakat, L., Kassam-Adams, N., Nixon, R. D.V., Hogan, S., Punamaki, R.L., Palosaari, E., Schilpzand, E., Conroy, R., Smith, P., Yule, W., & Meiser-Stedman, R. (2019). Dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions, posttraumatic stress and depression in children and adolescents exposed to trauma: A network analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, n/a(n/a). doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13101

83. Purgato, M., Tedeschi, F., Betancourt, T., Bolton, P., Bonetto, C., Gastaldon, C., Gordon, J., O’Callaghan, P., Papola, D., Peltonen, K., Punamäki, R.L., Richards, J., Staples, J.K., Unterhitzenberger, J., de Jong, J., Jordans, M.J.D., Gross, A.L., Tol, W.A., & Barbui, C. (2019). Mediators of focused psychosocial support interventions for children in low-resource humanitarian settings: analysis from an Individual Participant Dataset with 3143 participants. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 07 November 2019, doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13151

84. Kankaanpää, S., Isosävi, S., Diab, S.Y., Qouta, S.R., & Punamäki, R.L. (2020). Trauma and parenting beliefs: Exploring the ethnotheories and socialization goals of Palestinian mothers. Child and Family Studies, 29, 2130–2145. doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01746-w 

85. Isosävi, S., Diab, S. Y., Qouta, S.R., Kangaslampi, S., Sleed, M., Kankaanpää, S., Puura, K., & Punamäki, R-L. (2020). Caregiving representations in war conditions: Associations with maternal trauma, mental health, and mother-infant interaction. Infant Mental Health Journal,41 (2), 246-263. doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21841

86. Punamäki, R.L. (2020). Developmental effects of political violence: An Attachment theory approach. In C. W. Greenbaum, M.M. Haj-Yahia, & C. Hamilton (Eds.) Handbook of Political Violence and Children: Psychosocial Effects, Intervention, and Prevention Policy. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190874551.

87. Flykt, M., Punamäki, R.L., & Pösö, T. (2020). Vauvojen huostaanotto kehityksellisenä ja tutkimusperustaisena kysymyksenä. Yhteiskuntapolitiikka,3/2020. https://www.yplehti.fi/ 

88. Nyarko, F., Punamäki, R.L., Kangaslampi, S., & Peltonen, K. (2020). Emotional intelligence and cognitive skills protecting mental health from stress and violence among Ghanaian youth. Heliyon, 6(5), e03878. doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03878

89. Nyarko, F., Punamäki, R.L., Kangaslampi, S., & Peltonen, K. (2020). How stressful life events and violence are related to mental health: The protective role of social relationships in an African context. Heliyon, 6(8), e04629. doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04629

90. Al Baraquoni, N., Qouta, Q.R., Vänskä, M., Safwat Y. Diab, S.Y., Punamäki, R.L., & Manduca, P. (2020). Takes time to unravel the ecology of war in Gaza, Palestine: The longterm changes in maternal, newborn and toddlers heavy metal loads, and developmental milestones in the aftermath of the 2014 military attacks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6698. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186698

91. Salo, S., Flykt, M., Mäkelä, J., Lassenius-Panula, L., Lindaman, S., J.,& Punamäki, R.L-. (2020). The impact of Theraplay® therapy on parent-child interaction and child psychiatric symptoms: A pilot study. International Journal of Play, 9(3), 331-352.doi. 10.1080/21594937.2020.1806500

92. Punamäki, R.L, Vänskä, M., Perko, K., Qouta, S., & Diab, S.Y. (2020). Vocal emotion expression in infant-directed singing: the role of war trauma- and mental health and impacts on infant development Infant and Child Development, 11, 1-23. doi: 10.1002/icd.2176

93. Flykt, M., Lindblom, J., Belt, R., & Punamäki, R-L. (2021). The role of mother’s prenatal substance use disorder and early parenting on child social cognition at school-age. Infant and Child Development, e-2221, https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2221

94. Qouta, S., Vänskä, M., Diab, S.Y., & Punamäki, R.L. (2021). War trauma and infant motor, cognitive, and socioemotional development: Maternal mental health and dyadic interaction as explaining processes, Infant Behavior and Development, 63, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101532

95. Tammilehto, J., Punamäki, R.-L., Flykt, M., Vänskä, M., Heikkilä, L. M., Lipsanen, J., Poikkeus, P., Tiitinen, A., & Lindblom, J. (2021). Developmental stage-specific effects of parent–child relationship on adolescents’ emotion regulation: A longitudinal study from infancy to late adolescence. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 582770. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.582770 

96. Kankaanpää, R., Aalto, S., Vänskä, M., Lepistö, R., Punamäki, R.L., Soye, E., Watters, C., & Peltonen, K., (2022). Effectiveness of psychosocial school interventions in Finnish schools for refugee and immigrant children, “Refugees Well School” in Finland (RWS-FI): a protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials 23, 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05715-6  

97. Durbeej, N., McDiarmid, S., Sarkadi, A., Feldman, I., Punamäki, R.L., Kankaanpää, R., Andersen. A., Hilden, P.K., Verelst, A., Derluyn, I., Osman, F. (2021). Evaluation of a school-based intervention to promote mental health of refugee youth in Sweden (The RefugeesWellSchool Trial): study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials 22, 98, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04995-8

98. Punamäki, R-L., Lindblom, J., Belt, R., & Flykt, M. (2021). Maternal substance use disorder predicting children’s emotion regulation in middle childhood: The role of early mother-infant interaction. Heliyon, 7, doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06728 

99. Belt, R., Flykt, M., & Punamäki, R.L. (2021). Äidin raskausajan huumeriippuvuus heijastuu pitkäkestoisesti äidin hyvinvointiin ja lapsen sosioemotionaaliseen kehitykseen. Suomen Lääkärilehti, 76(37), 1964-1968.  

100. Shirazi, Y. G., Punämäki, R. L., Peltonen, K., Malekzadeh, M., & Esmaeili, O. (2021). Narrative-based intervention and emotional intelligence in female children. East European Journal of Psycholinguistics, 8(1), 95-109. doi.org/10.29038/eejpl.2021.8.1.shi

101. Punamäki, R.L., Peltonen, K., Diab, M., & Qouta, S.R. (2021). How family relationships predict the effectiveness of a psychosocial group intervention among war-affected children. Journal of Education in Emergence, 7, 253-288. doi.org/10.33682/004f-n6d.

102. Flykt, M.S., Vänskä, M., Punamäki, R.L., & Heikkilä, L., Tiitinen, A., Poikkeus, P. & Lindblom (2021). Adolescent attachment profiles associate with mental health and risk-taking behavior. Frontiers: Developmental Psychology 12, 5424. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.761864  

103. Punamäki, R.-L., Tammilehto, J., Flykt, M., Vänskä, M., J., Poikkeus, P., Tiitinen, A., & Lindblom, J. (2022). Determinants of sleep quality in adolescence: obstetric, early family and emotion regulation. Journal of Applied Development, 80, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2022.101420  

104. Punamäki, R.L., Flykt, M., Lindblom, J., Tiitinen, A., Poikkeus, P. & Vänskä, M. (2022). Do family members sleep alike? sleep features among mothers, fathers, and adolescents and their impact on mental health and relationship. Journal Family Relations. 1-20. doi.org/10.1111/fare.12759 

105. Flykt, M.S, Prince, M., Vänskä, M., Lindblom, J., Minkkinen, J., Tiitinen, A., Poikkeus, P., Biringen, & Punamäki, R.L. (2022). Adolescent attachment to parents and peers in singletons born and twins born with assisted and natural conception. Human Reproduction, Open, 2, hoac012. https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoac012 

102. Punamäki, R.L. (2022). Motherhood in conditions of war and refugee: Biological and psychosocial routes to infant development. In M. Nolan (ed). Contemporary Issues in Perinatal Education. Routledge.

103. Flykt, M.S., Gastelle, M., Punamäki, R.L., & Kerns, K. (2022). Signs of disorganization in middle childhood attachment narratives. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: Journal of Developmental Psychology, (in press)

104. Peltonen, K., Aalto, S., Vänskä, M., Lepistö, R., Punamäki, R.-L., Soye, E., Watters, C., de Wal Pastoor, L., Derluyn, I., & Kankaanpää, R. (2022). Effectiveness of Promotive and Preventive Psychosocial Interventions on Improving the Mental Health of Finnish-Born and Immigrant Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063686

105. Hilden, P. K., Osman, F., Pastoor, L. d. W., Punamäki, R-L., & Andersen, A. J. (2022). RefugeesWellSchool implementation protocol: In-Service Teacher Training (INSETT). Oslo, Gent: Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Ghent University.

106. Punamäki, R-L., Durbeej, N., Pastoor, L. d. W., & Osman, F. (2022). RefugeesWellSchool implementation protocol: Teaching Recovery Techniques and In-Service Teacher Training (INSETT). Tampere, Gent: Tampere University, Ghent University.

107. Flykt, M., Belt, R., Salo, S., Pajulo, M, & Punamäki, R.L. (2022). Mentalization among substance-using mothers . Prenatal reflective functioning (RF) as a predictor of substance- using mothers’ treatment outcome: Comparing results from two different RF measures. Frontiers in Psychology: Developmental Psychology, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/tpsyg.2022.909414.

108. Flykt, M., Belt, R., Salo, S., Pajulo, M, & Punamäki, R.L. (2022). Prenatal reflective functioning as a predictor of substance-using mothers’ treatment outcome: Comparing results from two different RF measures. Frontiers in Psychology: Developmental Psychology, 1-16.doi: 10.3389/tpsyg.2022.909414

109. Ilomäki, M., Lindblom, J., Salmela, V., Flykt, M., Vänskä, M., Salmi, J., Tolonen, T., Alho, K., Punamäki, R.L., & Wikman, P.A. (2022). Early Life Stress is Associated with the Default Mode and Fronto-limbic Network Connectivity in Early Adulthood. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 23. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.958580

110. Autio, K., Liukkonen, N., Kankaanpää, R., Vänskä, M., Aalto, S., Punamäki, R-L. & Peltonen, K. (2022). Yhteenkuuluvuus ja mielenterveys maahanmuuttajataustaisilla ja Suomessa syntyneillä nuorilla. Psykologia, 57(3), 204-218.

111. Punamäki, R.L. (2022). Traumaattiset sotakokemukset ja mahdollisuus rauhaan. Teoksessa. Ukrainan sota ja maailma sen jälkeen — Sota, rikos ja sovitus (Toim. P. Koistinen & I. Salonen). (sivut 121-137). Tampere: Vastapaino. 

112. Punamäki, R.L. (2022). Kehitys- ja mielenterveyspsykologia: Sotatraumoja, kehtolauluja ja ihmisoikeuksia. Psykologia, 57(5-6), 440-446.

113. Punamäki, R. L. (2022). Motherhood in conditions of war - biological and psychosocial routes to infant development. In Nolan, M. (Ed.) Contemporary Issues in Perinatal Education: Knowledge into Practice (pp. 45-48). London: Taylor and Francis.

114. Kankaanpää, R., Töttö, P., Punamäki, R.L., & Peltonen (2023). Is it time to revise the SDQ? Psychometric investigation of the SDQ as a measurement model with reflective indicators and as a network. Psychological Assessment (on line)https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001265

115. Punamäki, R-L., Derluyd, I. & RWS-team (2023). RefugeesWellSchool assessment protocol: Tools for measuring the well-being and social adjustment of immigrant adolescents and parents, and teachers’ work experiences. Ghent University. Belgium.

116. Punamäki, R.-L., Soye, E., Kankaanpää, R., Mohammadi, L., Vänskä, M., Aalto, S. Watters, C., Derluyn, I., Verelest, A., & Peltonen, K. (2023). Psychosocial class-based intervention among native and immigrant adolescents: A mixed method two-country study on outcomes and mechanisms of change (Submitted to Journal of Adolescent Research)

117. Ghafouri, N., Muhammadi, L., Simoqi, A.H., Punamäki, R.L. (2023) Mental Health in Genocide: Balancing between posttraumatic distress and growth among displaced Yazidi mothers. Journal of Mental Health (in press) 

118. Punamäki, R.L., Diab, S.Y., Drossos, K., Qouta, S.R., & Vänskä, M. (2023). How do acoustic features of maternal infant-directed singing associate with infant cognitive, sensorimotor and socio-emotional development? Infant Behavior & Development, 74, 101908 https://doi. org / 10.1016/j.infbeh.2023.101908) 

119. Vänskä, M., Kangaslampi, M., Heikkinen, M., Lindblom, J., Punamäki, R.L., Poikkeus, P.,Tiitinen, A., Heikkilä, L., & Flykt, M.S. (2023). How mental health is associated with adolescent cortisol and alpha amylase reactivity and coordination. International Journal of Behavioral Development 0 (0), https://doi.org/10.1177/016502542312089)

120. Punamäki, R.L. (2023). Perhedynaaminen näkemys sotatraumaan: Emotionaalinen työnjako, sisarussuhteet ja vanhemmuus. Teoksessa S. Isosävi, M. Ruohomäki, & S-L. Kaunisto (Toim.) Traumatisoituminen ja perhesuhteet. Helsinki:Traumaterapiakeskus. 

121. Ghafaryan Shirazi, Y., Lindblom, J., Punamäki, R.-L., Yli-Peltola, M., & Peltonen, K. (2023). Emotional awareness and internalizing problems: A Preliminary Test of State and Trait Associations among Adolescents. European Journal of Mental Health, 18, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.18.2023.0007