معرفی
Marjaterttu Pajulo is an Adjunct Professor and Docent in Early Childhood Psychiatry at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku. Her work bridges clinical practice and research, focusing on early child development, parental mentalization, and interventions for at-risk families.
Her research interests lie at the intersection of infant psychiatry, early parenthood, and preventive mental health. Key areas include parental mentalization, reflective functioning, parenting in substance abuse contexts, prenatal interventions, and family health promotion through a salutogenic lens. She investigates how early parent-child interactions shape child development and behavioral outcomes.
The recent articles highlight a strong focus on longitudinal studies, particularly using the FinnBrain Birth Cohort. Themes include the impact of maternal mentalization on child development, the role of reflective functioning in treatment outcomes for substance-using mothers, and the dynamics of parental bonding and mental health from pregnancy through early childhood. Methodologically, her work spans randomized controlled trials, cohort analyses, and cross-sectional assessments across psychology, psychiatry, and social sciences.
Scientific Contributions:
- Editorial leadership in Frontiers in Psychology on parental mentalization
- Key role in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study
- Development and evaluation of mentalization-focused ultrasound interventions
- Research on maternal-fetal attachment and smoking cessation
- Exploration of alexithymia and postpartum bonding
Dr. Pajulo actively collaborates with researchers across disciplines, contributing to both Finnish-language and international publications. While no formal advising or grant details are listed, her extensive publication record suggests active research supervision and project leadership. Her work emphasizes translational impact, aiming to improve clinical practices and preventive strategies in early childhood mental health.
