Kristina Carlén

Kristina Carlén is an Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Skövde, working within the School of Health Sciences. She has extensive experience in nursing, particularly in infectious diseases care, and has transitioned into academic work focusing on public health promotion and preventive healthcare across the lifespan.

Her educational background includes:

• Master of Science in Nursing
• Training as a school nurse
• Training as a district nurse
• Currently completing her PhD studies part-time

Kristina's research primarily focuses on adolescent mental health, examining predictors and factors that influence psychological well-being. Her work takes a salutogenic perspective, emphasizing factors that promote health rather than those that cause disease. She investigates how self-esteem, sense of coherence, and other resilience factors impact mental health outcomes in young people. Her research spans multiple life stages, recognizing that public health interventions must address needs from pregnancy through old age. A particular interest is existential health, which she views as fundamental to overall well-being alongside physical, mental, and social dimensions.

Her publication record shows a strong focus on longitudinal studies of adolescent mental health, gender differences in mental health outcomes, and digital interventions for health promotion. Recent work has expanded into digital health applications, examining how technology can support mental health and positive body image among adolescents.

Kristina serves as Program Manager for the Master's program in Public Health Sciences: Infection Control and Healthcare Hygiene, which began in Spring 2017. She teaches public health science to nurses, school nurses, health coaches, and public health scientists.

She is currently leading or participating in several research projects:

• To strengthen young people's mental health (2024-2027)
• Ambassadors as a tool to reduce stigma around mental health among young people (2024-2026)
• Digital Interventions Promoting Body Positivity and Mental Health (2024-2026)
• SeeMe: Children's Needs During Hospital Visits (2024-2025)

Her previous research project 'Predictors for mental health among adolescents' (2017-2021) investigated resource factors that influence the ability to maintain mental health among children and adolescents.