Partner 1 – Senior Advisor
name
Margaretha Larsson
nationality
Swedish
institution
Högskolan i Skövde
University of Skövde
department
Institutionen för hälsovetenskaper (IHV)
Institution of Health Sciences
city / country
Skövde, Sweden
professional status
Associate Professor of Nursing
PhD in Caring Science
role in the project
Margaretha Larsson will provide strategic and scientific advice throughout the VOICE project, drawing on her extensive expertise in school health, adolescent wellbeing, health promotion, and preventive interventions. She will contribute guidance on the development and implementation of school-based approaches for early identification of mental health difficulties, support stakeholder engagement and intersectoral collaboration, and advise on pathways linking schools, healthcare services, and community support. Her experience in research on school nurses, child maltreatment, violence exposure, and youth mental health will help strengthen the project's relevance, feasibility, and sustainability.
keywords
#adolescent mental health #school health services #school nursing #health promotion #child and adolescent wellbeing #violence exposure #early identification #school-based interventions #intersectoral collaboration #digital mental health.
orcid
general expertise and its relevance for the project
Margaretha Larsson is Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Skövde and has extensive expertise in adolescent health, school health services, health promotion, prevention, and child and family health. Her research has focused on adolescent wellbeing, school nurses’ roles in promoting mental health, identifying children exposed to violence and maltreatment, and strengthening collaboration between schools, healthcare services, and social services. She has also led and contributed to research on digital interventions, parental support, mental health promotion, and integrated care models for children and young people.
Within the VOICE project, her expertise is highly relevant to the development and implementation of school-based approaches for the early identification of mental health difficulties and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Her experience in school health services, violence prevention, youth wellbeing, and cross-sector collaboration will contribute to strengthening referral pathways, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of health-promoting and trauma-informed practices within educational settings.
positions
2014 – Present
Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in Nursing
School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, Sweden
2009 – 2014
Doctoral Research Student
Department of Caring Science and Social Work, Linnaeus University, Växjö, and Department of Health and Learning, University of Skövde, Sweden
2001–2009
Lecturer in Public Health
Department of Health and Natural Sciences, University of Skövde, Sweden
education
2014 – PhD in Caring Science
Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
2005 – Master of Science in Nursing
University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
2003 – Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
University of Skövde, Sweden
2000 – Specialist Qualification in Primary Health Care Nursing
University of Skövde, Sweden
1998 – Specialist Qualification in Cancer Care (Oncology Nursing)
University Väst, Sweden
1986 – Registered Nurse
Nursing Degree, University of Skövde, Sweden
doctoral and advanced-level courses
2014 – Caring Science and Didactics with a Focus on Professional Supervision III, 7.5 ECTS credits, Advanced Level, University of Skövde
2012 – Caring Science and Didactics with a Focus on Professional Supervision II, 7.5 ECTS credits, Advanced Level, University of Skövde
2013 – Philosophy of Science Perspectives in Caring Science, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Lund University
2011 – Hermeneutics and Phenomenology with a Focus on Analysis, 15 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2011 – Normative Ethics Relevant to Caring Practice, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2010 – In the Patient’s World: A Focus on Human Existence, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2010 – Health-Promoting Family Conversations: An Intervention Model, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2010 – Qualitative Research Methods, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2009 – Caring Science and Didactics with a Focus on Professional Supervision I, 7.5 ECTS credits, Advanced Level, University of Skövde
2009 – Reflective Lifeworld Research, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2009 – In the Patient’s World: Dimensions of the Patient Perspective, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2009 – Introduction to Caring Science, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2009 – The Objective and the Lived Body: Existential Philosophy and History of Ideas Relevant to Caring Science, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2008 – The Learning Encounter: Pedagogical Dimensions, 7.5 ECTS credits, Doctoral Course, Linnaeus University, Växjö
2006 – Health Geographies, 5 credits, Doctoral Course, Karlstad University
research outputs and their impact
Margaretha Larsson's research has contributed to advancing knowledge on adolescent health, school health services, health promotion, and early support for vulnerable children and young people. Her doctoral work increased understanding of factors influencing adolescent girls' health and informed approaches for strengthening wellbeing through supportive relationships, participation, and health-promoting school environments.
Her research on school nurses has generated important evidence on health promotion, the identification of violence exposure and child maltreatment, and collaboration around students experiencing mental health difficulties, contributing to improved practice within school health services.
She has also contributed to the development and evaluation of innovative health promotion and parental support interventions, including digital tools and interactive programmes designed to support mental health, parenting, and wellbeing. These outputs have informed both healthcare practice and educational initiatives at regional and national levels.
Through her research, supervision, leadership of research groups, and collaboration with schools, healthcare providers, municipalities, and national stakeholders, she has helped strengthen evidence-based approaches to health promotion and prevention for children, adolescents, and families in Sweden.
additional information
Member of the Swedish Ethical Review Authority since 2022 and former leader of the Family-Centred Health (FamCeH) research group. Extensive experience in research leadership, doctoral supervision, school health services, public health, and child and adolescent health. Principal investigator and collaborator in several externally funded research projects focusing on adolescent mental health, school health promotion, violence prevention, digital health interventions, and child and family wellbeing. She has extensive experience collaborating with schools, healthcare providers, municipalities, and regional stakeholders to develop and implement health-promoting and preventive interventions for children and young people.
1. Larsson M., Björk M., Ekebergh M., Sundler A. J. (2014). Striving to make a positive difference: School nurses’ experiences of promoting the health and well-being of adolescent girls. The Journal of School Nursing, 30(5), 358–365. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840513505223
2. Sundler A., Wilhsson M., Darcy L., Larsson M. (2021). Swedish school nurses’ experiences of child abuse. The Journal of School Nursing, 37(3), 176–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840519863843
3. Wilhsson M., Hagström Santos da Silva E., Loander Löf S., Larsson M. (2023). Swedish school nurses’ experiences of identifying students who are exposed to violence – a qualitative study. British Journal of Child Health.
4. Johansson Cristvall A., Larsson M., Tell J., Skär L. (2025). School Health Services’ Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Interorganizational Collaboration Regarding Students With Mental Illness: A Scoping Review. The Journal of School Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405241245029
5. Larsson M., Sundler,A.J., Ekebergh M. (2013). Beyond Self-Rated Health: The Adolescent Girl’s Lived Experience of Health in Sweden. The Journal of School Nursing, 29(1), 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840512446151
complete list of publications
Larsson M., Friberger L., Götvall J., Eriksson I. Exploring district nurses’ experiences with digital encounters in primary healthcare: a qualitative pilot study. BMC Primary Care. 2026-06-06. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s12875-026-03410-6
Skogelin T., Hallgren J., Ahlstrand I., Larsson M., Larsson I. Health, health-promoting resources, and lifestyle factors among final-semester students in nursing, healthcare, and social work programs, and newly graduated nurses and healthcare and social work professionals - a repeated cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing. 2026-03-07. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-026-04474-6
Behboudi A., Knez R., Andersson K., Larsson M., Berglund M., Åberg C., Ejeskär K., Suominen S., Holford D., O’brien O., et al. Smartphone use and loneliness in life transitions: A biopsychosocial perspective. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2026-02-17. Journal article.
DOI: 10.1177/14034948261418846
Larsson M., Gillsjö C., Sundberg A., Zakrisson M., Eriksson I. Attentive Listening and Confirmation Key Aspects in Health Promotion Encounters With Patients in Telephone Counselling. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 2025-12. Journal article. DOI: 10.1111/scs.70141
Sörman K., El Alaoui S., Mårtensson S., Larsson M., Knez R., Ljudvåg M., Mac R., Dahlström K., Elvin Nowak Y., Fors U., et al. Virtual patient simulation strengthens confidence in clinical conversations among undergraduated nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Medical Education. 2025-12-08. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-025-08413-y
Dåderman A. M., Persson B. N., Ahlstrand I., Hallgren J., Larsson I., Larsson M., Sundler A. J., Hedén L., Nunstedt H., Ekman A., et al. Item response theory modelling of the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire-short form: item streamlining, differential item functioning, and validity in a Swedish multicenter cross-sectional study. BMC Psychology. 2025-08-29. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-025-03271-1
Guvå H., Wilhsson M., Larsson M., Emmesjö L. Building trusting relationships while worrying about doing the wrong thing - a qualitative content analysis study on Swedish school nurses experiences of meeting students with trans experiences. BMC Nursing. 2025-05-15. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-025-03208-4
Larsson I., Ahlstrand I., Larsson M., Pennbrant S., Ekman A., Hallgren J. Health-promoting resources and workplace experiences among newly graduated healthcare and social work professionals – a multicentre cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research. 2025-04-29. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-025-12782-x
Johansson Cristvall A., Larsson M., Tell J., Skär L. School Health Services’ Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Interorganizational Collaboration Regarding Students With Mental Illness: A Scoping Review. The Journal of School Nursing. 2025-02. Journal article. DOI: 10.1177/10598405241245029
Larsson M., Ahlstrand I., Larsson I., Lood Q., Andersson Hammar I., Sundler A. J., Pennbrant S., Ekman A., Forsberg E., Hedén L., et al. Occupational balance and associated factors among students during higher education within healthcare and social work in Sweden: a multicentre repeated cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2024-04. Journal article. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080995
Larsson M., Bäckström C., Larsson R., Gahm S., Wilhsson M. Extended home visits can provide multidimensional adapted professional support for parents – an intervention study. Primary Health Care Research & Development. 2023. Journal article. DOI: 10.1017/S1463423623000336
Larsson M., Sundler A. J., Blomberg K., Bisholt B. The clinical learning environment during clinical practice in postgraduate district nursing students' education: A cross‐sectional study. Nursing Open. 2023-02. Journal article. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.1356
Hallgren J., Bäckström C., Pettersson M., Sternehov E., Larsson M.
A prospective cross-sectional study of child healthcare competence among nurses within primary healthcare in Sweden. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research. 2023-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1177/20571585221096548
Larsson M., Wilhsson M., Hagman Nielsen S., Larsson J., Eriksson I.
Telephone nurses’ experiences of managing callers affected by mental illness: A descriptive qualitative study. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research. 2023-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1177/20571585221106078
Ahlstrand I., Larsson I., Larsson M., Ekman A., Hedén L., Laakso K., Lindmark U., Nunstedt H., Oxelmark L., Pennbrant S., et al. Health-promoting factors among students in higher education within health care and social work: a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data in a multicentre longitudinal study. BMC Public Health. 2022-12. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13690-z
Hallgren J., Larsson M., Kjellén M., Lagerroth D., Bäckström C. ‘Who will do it if I don’t?’ Nurse anaesthetists’ experiences of working in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Australian Critical Care. 2022-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.aucc.2021.11.003
Gamgam Leanderz Å., Hallgren J., Henricson M., Larsson M., Bäckström C. Parental‐couple separation during the transition to parenthood. Nursing Open. 2021-09. Journal article. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.803
Larsson M., Eriksson I., Johansson K., Stigsson A.-K., Svahn R., Wetterström J., Wilhsson M. Individual parental conversations with non-birthing parents. Primary Health Care Research & Development. 2020. Journal article. DOI: 10.1017/S1463423620000286
Lindmark U. Ahlstrand I., Ekman A., Berg L., Hedén L., Källstrand J., Larsson M., Nunstedt H., Oxelmark L., Pennbrant S., Sundler A., Larsson I. Health-promoting factors in higher education for a sustainable working life – protocol for a multicenter longitudinal study. BMC Public Health. 2020-12. Journal article. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-8181-3 Part of ISSN: 1471-2458
Eriksson I., Wilhsson M., Blom T., Broo Wahlström C., Larsson M. Telephone nurses' strategies for managing difficult calls: A qualitative content analysis. Nursing Open. 2020-11. Journal article. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.549
Sundler A. J., Blomberg K., Bisholt B., Eklund A., Windahl J., Larsson M. Experiences of supervision during clinical education among specialised nursing students in Sweden: A cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today. 2019-08. Journal article. DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2019.05.009 Part of ISSN: 0260-6917
Eriksson I., Ek K., Jansson S., jöström U., Larsson M. To feel emotional concern: A qualitative interview study to explore telephone nurses’ experiences of difficult calls. Nursing Open. 2019-07. Journal article. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.264
Sundler A. J., Whilson M., Darcy L., Larsson M. Swedish School Nurses’ Experiences of Child Abuse. The Journal of School Nursing. 2019-07-16. Journal article. DOI: 10.1177/1059840519863843. Part of ISSN: 1059-8405. Part of ISSN: 1546-8364
Thorstensson S., Egnell M., Larsson M. School nurses' perceptions of using the physical environment of their office to support wellbeing. British Journal of School Nursing. 2018-04-02. Journal article. DOI: 10.12968/bjsn.2018.13.3.128 Part of ISSN: 1752-2803 Part of ISSN: 2052-2827
Thorstensson S., Blomgren C., Sundler A. J., Larsson M. To break the weight gain — A qualitative study on the experience of school nurses working with overweight children in elementary school. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2018-01. Journal article. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.13924
Larsson M., Sundler A. J.,Ekebergh M., Björk M. Altering the Parenting Role: Parents’ Experience of Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Their Adolescent Girls. Child and Youth Care Forum. 2015. Journal article. DOI: 10.1007/s10566-014-9287-5. EID: 2-s2.0-84939981631
Larsson M., Björk M., Ekebergh M., Sundler A. J. Striving to Make a Positive Difference: School Nurses’ Experiences of Promoting the Health and Well-Being of Adolescent Girls. Journal of School Nursing. 2014. Journal article. DOI: 10.1177/1059840513505223. EID: 2-s2.0-84907140998
Larsson M., Sundler A. J., Ekebergh M. Beyond Self-Rated Health: The Adolescent Girl's Lived Experience of Health in Sweden. Journal of School Nursing. 2013. Journal article. DOI: 10.1177/1059840512446151
Larsson M., Sundler A. J., Ekebergh M. The influence of living conditions on adolescent girls' health. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2012. Journal article. DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v7i0.19059
