Riikka Hirvonen

Riikka Hirvonen is a Senior Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) in the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, part of the Philosophical Faculty. She holds a PhD in Psychology and has been at UEF since 2019, previously working at the University of Jyväskylä. Her research focuses on primary and secondary students’ academic behaviors, emotions, and well-being, particularly exploring how temperament and learning environments influence achievement and adjustment. She is affiliated with the Motivation, learning, and well-being (MoLeWe UEF) research group and leads projects like 'Sustainable Food Education and Food Waste' and 'STAIRWAY study.'

Her educational background includes a PhD in Psychology, with no listed formal degrees beyond this. Research interests span academic emotions, self-regulation, statistical modeling, and teacher education roles. Notable projects investigate motivation dynamics during educational transitions and pandemic impacts on student well-being.

Riikka’s work emphasizes practical pedagogy in teacher training schools, balancing subject expertise with mentorship for student teachers. Recent publications (2021–2025) highlight themes like teacher educator roles, maternal homework involvement, and adolescent mental health interventions. She collaborates widely, co-authoring studies on classroom climate, perfectionism, and remote learning during the pandemic.

Key contributions include developing programs like the 'Youth Compass' for adolescent mental health and analyzing bidirectional influences between family involvement and academic motivation. Her research bridges theory and practice, aiming to improve support systems for students with learning or adjustment challenges.