We are delighted to welcome Siri Jakobsson Störe. Her research interests primarily lie within clinical psychology, health psychology, and developmental psychology, closely linked to her background as a licensed psychologist.
Siri, tell us about your background!
– I earned my degree in psychology in Oslo before moving to ¹û¶³´«Ã½ in 2013, where I began working in child and adolescent psychiatry. During my seven years there, I specialized in clinical psychology. Subsequently, I became a doctoral candidate in psychology at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, and this was my first encounter with CTF, as Erik Wästlund was part of my research group. In January this year, I defended my thesis on sleep robots. I am currently both a postdoctoral researcher in psychology at Örebro University, where I am developing and researching a digital psychological treatment for individuals with disorders of gut-brain interaction and anxiety/depression, and an assistant professor in psychology at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, where I teach courses in psychotherapy and developmental psychology and conduct research at CTF.
From sleep robots to travel habits and SMS coaching
In her doctoral thesis, Siri examined the effects of the Somnox sleep robot as a potential aid for adults with insomnia. The thesis focused on the feasibility of the treatment and its effects on sleep, anxiety, and depression. The robot was perceived as safe and was appreciated by many, but the studies showed mixed results in alleviating participants’ insomnia. This aligns with previous research on other robots among older adults, which was also highlighted in a review study included in the thesis. Siri emphasizes that further research is needed to determine the true potential of robots as a treatment for sleep difficulties.
At CTF, Siri is involved in two projects. In one, she is studying how life events affect everyday travel among adults and older adults, in collaboration with Lars E. Olsson, Margareta Friman, and Markus Fellesson. In the other project, she is evaluating SMS coaching as an addition to an existing lifestyle change program at a digital healthcare centre in Värmland, in collaboration with Charlotte Bäccman and Erik Wästlund.
What do you hope to achieve with your research?
– Through my research at CTF, I hope to identify key factors that have influenced older generations’ travel habits throughout their lives. I aim to highlight both recurring patterns and new realities in their lives, which could be important for predicting future transport usage, improving the planning and adaptation of transport solutions, and creating more energy-efficient communities. Through my second project, I aim to explore how SMS coaching can support lifestyle changes and create sustainable behavioral changes within digital healthcare. I hope that this research will lead to more personalized and effective interventions that enhance individuals’ health and well-being over time. Ultimately, I hope that my research can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive society, and lead to tangible actions that make a difference in people’s everyday lives.
