Sanna Hedrén

Sanna Hedrén is a Senior Lecturer at Linköping University, affiliated with both the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning (IBL) and the Department of Learning, Aesthetics and Natural Sciences (LEN). Her academic work focuses on educational settings, particularly after-school centers and leisure activities for children and young people.

Dr. Hedrén's primary research interests revolve around children and young people's meaningful leisure time in various institutions such as after-school centers and open leisure activities. She is particularly interested in how such institutions are created and re-created through the social interactions that take place within them. Her work examines the dynamics between children, staff, and institutional frameworks that shape leisure experiences.

Her research portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on understanding children's experiences in educational leisure settings. Through multiple collaborative projects, she investigates how children make meaning in structured leisure environments, how institutions respond to children's needs, and how social dynamics influence participation and engagement. Her work bridges theoretical perspectives on childhood, education, and social interaction with practical applications in after-school programming.

Dr. Hedrén is actively involved in several ongoing research projects including children's meaning-making in volunteering and governance, developing methods to counteract social unrest with recreation centers, exploring leisure activities for 10-12 year olds, and investigating success factors for appealing leisure activities for children. Her publications span multiple interdisciplinary journals focusing on childhood education, social interaction, and leisure studies.