Merja Tarvainen

Biographic Data

ID4422156
NAMEMerja Tarvainen
GIVEN NAMESMerja
FAMILY NAMETarvainen
SIGNATURETARVAINEN M
AFFILIATIONSUniversity of Eastern Finland
ORCID0000-0001-6912-7294
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS5
TOTAL CITATIONS4
WORKS AS AUTHOR5
WORKS AS EDITOR0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2020
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX1

  • Imagining a desired future in the context of illness or disability

    Open AccessVilma Hänninen, Hanna Pohjola et al.ARTICLEPossibility Studies & Society2026

    This study investigates the imagination of the future in the context illness or disability, using the letters from the future method (LFM) and reading the letters from the perspective of the concept of possibility. The data comprise 30 letters from the participants of an online adaptation enhancement training program called Etäsope , which was organized by Invalidiliitto (The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities) in Finland fr…

  • People with disabilities’ envisions of structural disability social work in the hoped-for future

    Open AccessOona Lipponen, Merja TarvainenARTICLEQualitative Social Work2025

    This study investigates visions of hoped-for future concerning structural disability social work from the perspective of people with disabilities in Finland. The work draws on critical and progressive tradition of structural social work and uses a narrative Letters from the Future method. The research question was as follows: What key aspects do people with disabilities envisage for structural disability social work in their letters? The data con…

  • Clients’ and social workers’ stories about discretion in social work with persons with disabilities

    Open AccessMerja Tarvainen, Mari KivistöARTICLEQualitative Social Work2024

    This study explores discretion in social work with persons with disabilities. By drawing on a narrative social work approach, the study acknowledges narratives crucial for conducting social work. The research question was as follows: How do persons with disabilities as clients and social workers as professionals consider discretion and its consequences? The data consisted of clients’ and social workers’ written accounts about discretion and were …

  • Construction of discretion-related characters in social work with persons with disabilities in Finland

    Open AccessMari Kivistö, Merja TarvainenARTICLEEuropean Journal of Social Work2024References: 2

    This study explores characterisation regarding discretion in social work with persons with disabilities (PWD) in Finland. Discretion is conceptualised as a relational and institutional practice that is connected to narratives and conducted through relationships. The writings of six social workers and 36 clients about discretion in social work with PWD were analysed through characterisation. The research question was as follows: How do social work…

  • Loneliness in life stories by people with disabilities

    Open AccessMerja TarvainenARTICLEDisability & Society2020Cited by: 4References: 9

    This study investigates loneliness in life stories by people with disabilities. By approaching loneliness from a relational perspective, this study attempts to illustrate how loneliness and disability are intertwined in the life course. The research question was as follows: How do people with disabilities understand loneliness in their life stories? Life story data ‘Life of Disabled Persons in Finland 2013–2014’ was analysed with a narrative life…