Current status: Phd student at Jyväskylä & Helsinki University, Finland
Primary research discipline: Developmental psychology, Sociology
Research keywords: Life course studies, youth transitions, longitudinal studies
Primary research discipline: Developmental psychology, Sociology
Research keywords: Life course studies, youth transitions, longitudinal studies
I am a PhD student at the Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland and at the Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki.
In my doctoral research study, I investigate the role of economic determinants on subjective well-being and life course development during emerging adulthood, in the critical and multi-faceted transition from education to further studies and/or employment during times of economic uncertainty in society. The focus is on young adults’ current financial situation in Finland, conceptualizing young adults as active agents, and explores resources which promote successful transitions, financial independence and well-being. The focus is on the changing nature of the transition to adulthood, as frequently transitions vary between individuals, and are interlinked and postponed. The study has a multidisciplinary focus, integrating sociological youth and life course theories and perspectives on the macro-economic sociohistorical context with psychological theories on positive youth development. Through working with a longitudinal data set and making use of extensive statistical analyses, this study contributes to our understanding of young adulthood development by analyzing the role of economic factors and potential underlying mechanisms regarding financial security, well-being developmental trajectories, and social relations. My doctoral dissertation work is part of the Finnish Educational Transitions (FinEdu) Study ongoing longitudidnal project (PI Professor Katariina Salmela-Aro), where I have also been working as a Research Assistant since 2005.
Areas of Expertise: youth research, life course studies, well-being, financial issues, agency, youth transitions, emerging adulthood, person-oriented approach, longitudinal studies, quantitative research methods, multidisciplinarity, questionnaire data collections.
Selected publications:
Email address: [email protected]
- Ranta, M., Dietrich, J., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2014). Career and romantic relationship goals and concerns during emerging adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 2, 17–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2167696813515852
- Ranta, M., Chow, A., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2013). Trajectories of life satisfaction and the financial situation in the transition to adulthood. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (4)1, 57–77.
- Ranta, M., Punamäki, R.-L., Tolvanen, A., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2012). The role of financial resources and agency in success and satisfaction regarding developmental tasks in early adulthood. In Sampson Lee Blair (Ed.), Economic Stress and the Family (Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, Vol. 6). Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 187–233. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/S1530-3535(2012)0000006011
Email address: [email protected]