Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino
Biographic Data
| ID | 1731772 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino |
| GIVEN NAMES | Riittakerttu |
| FAMILY NAME | Kaltiala-Heino |
| SIGNATURE | KALTIALA-HEINO R |
| AFFILIATIONS | Tampere University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2783-3892 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 36 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1999 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Three-to-six-year-olds’ sexuality-related knowledge in Finland: Impact of early education professionals’ training
Research on the effectiveness of comprehensive sexuality education for 3-to-6-year-olds, especially outside the USA, is limited. This quasi-experimental ecological study assessed the impact of a comprehensive sexuality education programme provided to professionals on children’s knowledge in five early education units across two municipalities in the capital region of Finland, compared to children’s knowledge in two control settings. Professionals…
What do 3–6-year-old children in Finland know about sexuality? A child interview study in early education
Only a very few studies to date have comprehensively assessed children’s knowledge of sexuality. In this study, we examined the level of sexual knowledge among children aged 3–6 years in Finland. We analysed children’s explanations of what they saw in drawings related to genital naming, conception and childbirth, safety skills, and adult sexual activity. Levels of knowledge were generally low. The largest number of correct answers were given for …
Bereaved parents’ and siblings’ healthcare needs, healthcare utilization, and satisfaction with healthcare services eight years after the 2011 Utøya terror attack
Understanding the healthcare needs of bereaved individuals following terrorism is crucial for organizing healthcare services. This cross-sectional study examined the terror-related healthcare needs, healthcare utilization, and satisfaction with professional healthcare among 122 traumatically bereaved parents and siblings eight years after the 2011 Utøya terrorist attack in Norway. Results showed that over 50% of the participants currently needed …
Family Characteristics, Transgender Identity and Emotional Symptoms in Adolescence: A Population Survey Study
Sociodemographic and psychosocial family factors have profound implications for adolescent development, identity formation and mental health during the adolescent years. We explored the associations of sociodemographic and psychosocial family factors with transgender identity in adolescence and the role of these factors in the associations between gender identity and emotional disorders. Data from a large adolescent population survey from Finland…
Identity Integration in Adolescents With Features of Gender Dysphoria Compared to Adolescents in General Population
Adolescence is an important period for identity formation and identity consolidation is one of the main developmental tasks. Gender identity is an essential aspect of identity but so far little is known about its development. Neither has the identity development of adolescents with features of gender dysphoria (GD) been extensively studied so far. However, adolescents with features of GD have been shown to present extensive psychiatric psychopath…
A Chronic Disease in Adolescence and Selection to an Educational Path—A Longitudinal Study
Chronic disease may affect adolescents' educational success. We study whether adolescents with a somatic chronic condition have lower school performance, lower odds for academic education, and a delayed start of upper-secondary studies. Seventh graders and ninth graders in the Helsinki Metropolitan Region, Finland, were invited to participate in a school survey in 2011 and 2014, respectively. The respondents (2011, N = 8960; 2014, N = 7394) were …
Aspects of Gender and Sexuality in Relation to Experiences of Subjection to Sexual Harassment among Adolescents in General Population
Subjection to sexual harassment (SH) has been reported more commonly by girls than by boys, by sexual and gender minority youth more than by mainstream youth, and by sexually active youth more than by those not yet experienced in romantic and erotic encounters. However, the research so far has not addressed these correlates simultaneously. This study aimed to explore independent associations between experiencing SH and these aspects of sex, gende…
Psychometric properties of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) in a large representative sample of Finnish adolescents
The Steps of Sexuality—A Developmental, Emotion-Focused, Child-Centered Model of Sexual Development and Sexuality Education from Birth to Adulthood
Objective: To review research on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral levels of sexual development in children and adolescents, and, based on that, to propose a model of sexual development from infancy to early adulthood, the Steps of Sexuality. Methods: Literature review. Results: We present a model of sexual development from infancy to early adulthood, the Steps of Sexuality. Conclusion: We posit that to promote “a state of physical, emotional,…
Adolescent sexual behavior—family characteristics, parental involvement, and associated mental disorders
Manifold factors connect with adolescent sexual behavior, but studies on their reciprocal associations are scarce. This study seeks to find the ways in which parental involvement, family characteristics, depression, and delinquency are connected to adolescent early/risky sexual behavior, and to what extent they modify each other. A population-based self-report survey of nearly 187,000 adolescents (50.4% girls) was used. The most important of the …
Social Phobia and Educational and Interpersonal Impairments in Adolescence: A Prospective Study
Self-reported depression is increasing among socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents – repeated cross-sectional surveys from Finland from 2000 to 2011
The largest increases in prevalence of severe depression are seen among socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents. This suggests that inequalities in mental health may become an increasing concern
Cyberbullying among Finnish adolescents – a population-based study
Adolescents are commonly exposed to cyberbullying, but it is rarely frequent or considered serious or disruptive. Cyberbullying exposure differed between sexes, such that girls more often than boys witness cyberbullying of friends and boys more often act as the bully than girls. In future studies, the witnessing of cyberbullying and its consequences should be taken into account
Pubertal Timing and Substance Use in Middle Adolescence: A 2-Year Follow-up Study
Depression and school performance in middle adolescent boys and girls
The study aimed to investigate the associations between different levels of depression with different aspects of school performance. The target population included 2516 7th–9th grade pupils (13–17 years) of whom 90% completed the questionnaire anonymously in the classroom. Of the girls 18.4% and of the boys 11.1% were classified as being depressed (R‐Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Finnish version of the 13‐item BDI). The lower the self‐repo…
Internet addiction? Potentially problematic use of the Internet in a population of 12–18 year-old adolescents
On-line surveys indicate harmful excessive use of the Internet resulting in psychosocial problems (Internet addiction). Population studies are scarce, particularly on adolescents who are a vulnerable group in the middle of their personality development.The prevalence of features suggesting harmful use of the Internet is studied in a representative sample of 12–18 year-old Finns (N = 7292) in a postal survey in 2001. Criteria were tailored analogo…
Early puberty is associated with mental health problems in middle adolescence
Bullying at school—an indicator of adolescents at risk for mental disorders
Bullying, depression, and suicidal ideation in Finnish adolescents: School survey
Objective: To assess the relation between being bullied or being a bully at school, depression, and severe suicidal ideation. Design: A school based survey of health, health behaviour, and behaviour in school which included questions about bullying and the Beck depression inventory, which includes items asking about suicidal ideation. Setting: Secondary schools in two regions of Finland. Participants: 16410 adolescents aged 14-16. Results: There …
Bullying, depression, and suicidal ideation in Finnish adolescents: School survey
Objective: To assess the relation between being bullied or being a bully at school, depression, and severe suicidal ideation. Design: A school based survey of health, health behaviour, and behaviour in school which included questions about bullying and the Beck depression inventory, which includes items asking about suicidal ideation. Setting: Secondary schools in two regions of Finland. Participants: 16410 adolescents aged 14-16. Results: There …
Bullying at school—an indicator of adolescents at risk for mental disorders
Early puberty is associated with mental health problems in middle adolescence
Internet addiction? Potentially problematic use of the Internet in a population of 12–18 year-old adolescents
On-line surveys indicate harmful excessive use of the Internet resulting in psychosocial problems (Internet addiction). Population studies are scarce, particularly on adolescents who are a vulnerable group in the middle of their personality development.The prevalence of features suggesting harmful use of the Internet is studied in a representative sample of 12–18 year-old Finns (N = 7292) in a postal survey in 2001. Criteria were tailored analogo…
Depression and school performance in middle adolescent boys and girls
The study aimed to investigate the associations between different levels of depression with different aspects of school performance. The target population included 2516 7th–9th grade pupils (13–17 years) of whom 90% completed the questionnaire anonymously in the classroom. Of the girls 18.4% and of the boys 11.1% were classified as being depressed (R‐Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Finnish version of the 13‐item BDI). The lower the self‐repo…
Pubertal Timing and Substance Use in Middle Adolescence: A 2-Year Follow-up Study
Cyberbullying among Finnish adolescents – a population-based study
Adolescents are commonly exposed to cyberbullying, but it is rarely frequent or considered serious or disruptive. Cyberbullying exposure differed between sexes, such that girls more often than boys witness cyberbullying of friends and boys more often act as the bully than girls. In future studies, the witnessing of cyberbullying and its consequences should be taken into account
Self-reported depression is increasing among socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents – repeated cross-sectional surveys from Finland from 2000 to 2011
The largest increases in prevalence of severe depression are seen among socio-economically disadvantaged adolescents. This suggests that inequalities in mental health may become an increasing concern
Social Phobia and Educational and Interpersonal Impairments in Adolescence: A Prospective Study
Adolescent sexual behavior—family characteristics, parental involvement, and associated mental disorders
Manifold factors connect with adolescent sexual behavior, but studies on their reciprocal associations are scarce. This study seeks to find the ways in which parental involvement, family characteristics, depression, and delinquency are connected to adolescent early/risky sexual behavior, and to what extent they modify each other. A population-based self-report survey of nearly 187,000 adolescents (50.4% girls) was used. The most important of the …
Psychometric properties of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) in a large representative sample of Finnish adolescents
The Steps of Sexuality—A Developmental, Emotion-Focused, Child-Centered Model of Sexual Development and Sexuality Education from Birth to Adulthood
Objective: To review research on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral levels of sexual development in children and adolescents, and, based on that, to propose a model of sexual development from infancy to early adulthood, the Steps of Sexuality. Methods: Literature review. Results: We present a model of sexual development from infancy to early adulthood, the Steps of Sexuality. Conclusion: We posit that to promote “a state of physical, emotional,…
Identity Integration in Adolescents With Features of Gender Dysphoria Compared to Adolescents in General Population
Adolescence is an important period for identity formation and identity consolidation is one of the main developmental tasks. Gender identity is an essential aspect of identity but so far little is known about its development. Neither has the identity development of adolescents with features of gender dysphoria (GD) been extensively studied so far. However, adolescents with features of GD have been shown to present extensive psychiatric psychopath…
A Chronic Disease in Adolescence and Selection to an Educational Path—A Longitudinal Study
Chronic disease may affect adolescents' educational success. We study whether adolescents with a somatic chronic condition have lower school performance, lower odds for academic education, and a delayed start of upper-secondary studies. Seventh graders and ninth graders in the Helsinki Metropolitan Region, Finland, were invited to participate in a school survey in 2011 and 2014, respectively. The respondents (2011, N = 8960; 2014, N = 7394) were …
Aspects of Gender and Sexuality in Relation to Experiences of Subjection to Sexual Harassment among Adolescents in General Population
Subjection to sexual harassment (SH) has been reported more commonly by girls than by boys, by sexual and gender minority youth more than by mainstream youth, and by sexually active youth more than by those not yet experienced in romantic and erotic encounters. However, the research so far has not addressed these correlates simultaneously. This study aimed to explore independent associations between experiencing SH and these aspects of sex, gende…
Family Characteristics, Transgender Identity and Emotional Symptoms in Adolescence: A Population Survey Study
Sociodemographic and psychosocial family factors have profound implications for adolescent development, identity formation and mental health during the adolescent years. We explored the associations of sociodemographic and psychosocial family factors with transgender identity in adolescence and the role of these factors in the associations between gender identity and emotional disorders. Data from a large adolescent population survey from Finland…
What do 3–6-year-old children in Finland know about sexuality? A child interview study in early education
Only a very few studies to date have comprehensively assessed children’s knowledge of sexuality. In this study, we examined the level of sexual knowledge among children aged 3–6 years in Finland. We analysed children’s explanations of what they saw in drawings related to genital naming, conception and childbirth, safety skills, and adult sexual activity. Levels of knowledge were generally low. The largest number of correct answers were given for …
Bereaved parents’ and siblings’ healthcare needs, healthcare utilization, and satisfaction with healthcare services eight years after the 2011 Utøya terror attack
Understanding the healthcare needs of bereaved individuals following terrorism is crucial for organizing healthcare services. This cross-sectional study examined the terror-related healthcare needs, healthcare utilization, and satisfaction with professional healthcare among 122 traumatically bereaved parents and siblings eight years after the 2011 Utøya terrorist attack in Norway. Results showed that over 50% of the participants currently needed …
Three-to-six-year-olds’ sexuality-related knowledge in Finland: Impact of early education professionals’ training
Research on the effectiveness of comprehensive sexuality education for 3-to-6-year-olds, especially outside the USA, is limited. This quasi-experimental ecological study assessed the impact of a comprehensive sexuality education programme provided to professionals on children’s knowledge in five early education units across two municipalities in the capital region of Finland, compared to children’s knowledge in two control settings. Professionals…
Psychology (18 works) · Medicine (15 works) · Clinical Psychology (13 works) · Developmental psychology (10 works) · Psychiatry (10 works) · Population (9 works) · Clinical Psychology (8 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (7 works) · Anxiety (5 works) · Demography (5 works)