Nora Wiium

Nora Wiium is a Professor in the Department of Social Psychology at the University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology. She leads research within the Social Influences on Adolescent Behavior and Health (SIPA) research group, focusing on positive youth development across diverse cultural contexts.

Her research spans multiple critical areas in adolescent development, with particular emphasis on positive youth development, developmental assets, mental health in youth, tobacco use and prevention, and identity development. Professor Wiium has developed significant expertise in cross-cultural studies of youth, conducting research in Norway, Ghana, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, and other countries. Her work frequently examines how contextual factors influence youth development across different cultural settings, with substantial contributions to understanding refugee and migrant youth development.

Professor Wiium's publication record shows remarkable consistency and productivity, with numerous publications annually through 2025. Her recent work has increasingly focused on how youth navigate challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, examining resilience and positive development trajectories through longitudinal designs. She has made significant contributions to the 5Cs model of positive youth development and its application across diverse cultural contexts.

• Co-editor of the influential Handbook of Positive Youth Development (2021)
• Principal investigator of the Cross-National Project on Positive Youth Development (CN-PYD)
• Extensive international collaborations across 5 continents
• Research featured in high-impact journals across psychology and public health

As a supervisor, Professor Wiium offers students opportunities to engage in international research collaborations, methodological training in longitudinal and cross-cultural research, and substantive expertise in positive youth development frameworks. Her teaching covers positive youth development, identity development, public health and positive psychology, health behavior and intervention models, and research methods, reflecting the breadth of her research expertise.

Her research group provides a rich environment for studying adolescent development through multiple lenses, with particular strengths in understanding how youth from diverse backgrounds navigate health behaviors, identity formation, and mental health challenges. The SIPA research group offers students access to international networks and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research on youth development across cultural contexts.