Maria Niemi

Maria Niemi

Senior Research Specialist | Docent
Visiting address: Solnavägen 1E, 11365 Stockholm
Postal address: K9 Global folkhälsa, K9 GPH EPiCSS Hollander, 171 77 Stockholm

About me

  • I am an Associate Professor (docent) in public health science and licensed
    psychotherapist with specific interest in mind-body interventions for social 
    sustainability, stress, depression and anxiety. I have been working in
    this field since my PhD studies, in various settings and contexts, including
    semi-rural areas in Vietnam as well as Stockholm. I also work clinically
    as a psychotherapist and with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction groups.

Research

  • Mindfulness Based Interventions and mental health:

    Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBI:s) have been included in the Swedish national guidelines for depression and anxiety management, and are increasingly being used in health-care. My research on MBI:s encompasses several research projects:

    One project aims to test the effects of a program, “Training for Awareness, resilience and Action among Students” (STARA) for preventing stress, depression and anxiety and for increasing committed action and resilience among medical students. The development of the STARA program was inspired by MBI:s, but is a further development from MBI:s in several ways: Breath and synchronized slow movements are used to improve emotional self-regulatory skills and there is a focus on committed action, socio-ecological theory and inquiry.

    I have cooordinated a Randomized Controlled Trial testing a novel mindfulness based parental programme, which showed good effects on reducing stress and depression in participating parents from pre- to post-intervention. The aim of this study was to examine whether this parental programme is more effective than usual maternal care in preventing adverse psychosocial and health consequences for the infant, which we found evidence for.

    I have also coordinated an implementation study of MBI:s in Swedish health care settings. A survey among providers in 20 of Sweden’s 21 regions showed that implementation is often not in line with national guidelines from Socialstyrelsen – MBI:s are modified in various ways that is not in line with the evidence base for these programs and a recommendation from our research to support integrity and fidelity of MBI implementation in Sweden, is that a strategic plan and good practice guidelines seem necessary. Also, an evidence-based stepped care model for implementation may work to ensure intervention fidelity in cases where time and funding constraints permit.

    Other ongoing research projects: 

    My current research focus includes the EU Horizon-funded project, "Youth co-Production for Sustainable Engagement and Empowerment in health" (YiPEE), which aims to help young people aged 12-15 improve their mental health and reduce their risk of chronic illnesses. You can read more about the project here: https://news.ki.se/major-eu-grant-to-ki-researchers-to-improve-youth-mental-health-and-well-being

    In addition I am also working on a Forte-funded Randomised Controlled Trial, which aims to assess the effects of yoga practice on post-COVID-19 condition.

    Moreover, I am co-coordinating the research project "Empowering Educators: Integrating Sustainable Health Competencies in Healthcare Professionals Training (ECHO-Health)", aiming to develop an evidence-based matrix of the pedagogical strategies needed to ensure that students develop key competencies for sustainable health, and the competencies teachers need to be able to use these strategies in a quality-assured way. 

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 March 2023 - 28 February 2026
    Background: Post COVID-19 condition (or long COVID) is a newly recognized health condition that lasts for at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis (WHO, 2022). Common symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, and impaired cognition (‘brain fog’). Pain is frequently reported, and sleep quality is often reduced. Over time, these symptoms have a detrimental effect on quality of life and mental health. Sweden and India have experienced major COVID-19 epidemics. In both countries, middle-aged and older adults have been disproportionately affected. Recent estimates suggest that ~25,000 Swedish adults have subsequently been diagnosed with post COVID. Physical activity (PA) levels are reduced in most people affected by post COVID, which increases the risk of multimorbidity. Conventional exercise (e.g., running) is not suitable for many of those affected. Yoga is shown to have positive effects on many of the symptoms associated with post COVID and could help those affected to regain PA levels and improve quality of life. Aim: To improve long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and promote healthy ageing in middle-aged and older adults (aged 50–75 years) with post COVID using yoga-based exercise.  Methods: We will conduct a randomized controlled trial (n=115) to compare the effects of a 12-week yoga intervention to a health promotion intervention for post COVID. Both interventions will be offered as adjuncts to usual care administered by a physician. The primary outcome is HR-QoL (SF-36). Secondary outcomes include self-reported fatigue, breathing difficulty, anxiety and depressive symptoms and cognition. Changes will be assessed on three occasions: baseline, post-intervention (12-weeks), and 6-month follow-up. A comparable intervention will be implemented in India and the results compared. A cost-effectiveness study is planned.Our Indian collaborators are experts in the design and assessment of yoga interventions
    knowledge that will be transferred to Sweden during the project. India will benefit from collaborative ties with Karolinska Institutet, and from methodological expertise. Our team includes experts in rehabilitation medicine, physical activity, neuropsychology, and international health. The PI in Sweden has a track record evaluating the health effects of yoga interventions in middle aged and older adults, including his recent Sweden-India collaboration, FitForAge (2017-20)

Employments

  • Senior Research Specialist, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-
  • Senior Research Specialist, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-2026

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2023
  • Licensed Psychotherapist, Integrative psychotherapy, Skandinaviens Akademi för Psykoterapiutveckling (Sapu), 2023
  • Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2012

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