May Britt Drugli

May Britt Drugli is a Professor at the Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, affiliated with NTNU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Department of Mental Health. Her research focuses on early childhood care, student-teacher relationships, child mental health, and intervention research. She has contributed to numerous publications addressing childcare quality, child well-being, and developmental outcomes.

Her work includes studies on cortisol levels in toddlers in childcare, the impact of professional development programs like 'Thrive by Three,' and the importance of play-based learning in educational policies. She frequently collaborates with educators and policymakers to translate research into practical pedagogical strategies.

Key areas of exploration include transition processes for young children entering childcare, the role of teacher-child interactions, and addressing socioeconomic disparities in early education. Her research emphasizes evidence-based practices to enhance child development and mental health.