Inga Dora Sigfusdottir
2009 Visiting ScholarDepartment of Education
Biography
We live in a world where information is instantaneous and constant change is among our few certainties. It is a world where when you ask a 7-year-old girl what she wants to become when she grows up, she answers: "I am going to become something that has not been invented yet." This is a fully predictable answer for a child living in an unpredictable and rapidly changing global community.
The breaking down of cultural and national boundaries as a result of expanded media and communication technologies has shaped our lifestyles in unprecedented ways, and geographical mobility is greater than ever before. Cities have grown, educational opportunities abound, and democracy has become a shared global experience.
Many of the changes we are witnessing are beneficial, accompanied by opportunities and equality, while others are creating daunting new challenges. At the same time, decades of social research has shown that rapid societal change may reduce social integration and contribute to a higher frequency of mental illness and delinquent behavior, including child abuse and substance use among adolescents.
Ever since I was a child I have been driven by the belief that my life's work should be devoted to understanding such societal changes and their potential consequences, as well as doing my best to create a more equitable and healthier community for people. And I have been lucky: For the whole of my working life, I have been given opportunities to be involved in creative intellectual work and service, two of the most important necessary elements in being an agent of social change. I have forged relationships with outstanding colleagues and mentors, and I have sought to ground my work in empirical data and evidence-based research.
Most of my research can be divided into two broad categories: (1) social research on scientific performance and policy; and (2) applied social research on youth and adolescents and their health and well-being.
My research within the field of sociology of science has been on several themes related to the changing institutional context of science. One of the themes that I have studied in this context is the changing role of science (a) as it becomes increasingly important to national economic growth and (b) in its utility in the improvement of national social welfare policies.
In relation to my work on youth and adolescents, I have been keenly interested in studying risk and protective factors in the prevention of adolescent delinquency and, more recently, health-related behavior, particularly substance use. I, along with my colleagues, have tried to disentangle the complicated picture of the interconnection among family, school, and friendship groups in order to understand what factors are important in explaining delinquent behavior and how these factors are related to each other. My studies, and those of my collaborating colleagues, have revealed that affiliations with family, peer group effects, and types of recreational activities available are the strongest predictors of the path taken by adolescents. My research has confirmed that any discussion of adolescents and substance use must therefore be careful to avoid what in the literature has been called the fallacy of autonomy, the belief that what goes on in adolescents' lives can usefully be separated from the forces that affect it from the outside.
My university training has guided my professional path. After my bachelor's degree in political science and my master's in sociology, both from the University of Iceland, I obtained my Ph.D. from Penn State University in Sociology. My dissertation was entitled: Stress in Adolescents´ Lives: The Role of Negative Life Events and Social Support in Understanding Distress, Delinquency, Substance Use and School Performance.
Following my studies at Penn State, I was offered an opportunity to take the lead on establishing and eventually chairing a new School of Education at Reykjavik University. This clearly was an opportunity of a lifetime; however, time was a limited quantiity. At the end of year 2004 I was handed a blank sheet and asked to build a new university department, which was supposed to be opened in the fall of 2005. My idea was not to open a traditional School of Education for teachers, but a school that linked health and education.
The resulting School of Health and Education at Reykjavik University now offers five different programs: B.S. program in sports education, B.S. in psychology with an emphasis on health, M.P.H. program in public health, M.P.H. in Executive public health, and diplomas in education for prospective teachers. We work with our colleagues at Columbia University Teachers College and the Mailman School of Public Health; Penn State University; the University of California, San Diego; Mayo Clinic; Karolinska Institute and the Nordic School of Public Health in Sweden; and King´s College in London.
In my professional life, I seek to balance my administrative, teaching, and mentoring responsibilities with service to my field.
In the future I plan to keep on devoting my time to creating and distributing knowledge and serving in other ways, specifically by using knowledge to benefit social circumstances of people. My focus will continue to be on research on youth and adolescents--examining risk and protective factors for adolescent health and behavior, specifically with the goal in mind to better understand and be able to create healthy living circumstances for young people in Iceland and elsewhere. Additionally, I intend to keep leading the prevention projects in Iceland and in Europe, while inviting other cities around the world to join our efforts.
Publications
Sigfusdottir, I.D., Asgeirsdottir, B.B., Macdonald, A., & Feller, I. (2005). An Evaluation of Scholarly Work at the University of Iceland. Reykjavik: The Ministry of Education.
Sigfusdottir, I.D., & Thorlindsson, Th. (2000). Grunnvísindi á Íslandi. Basic research in Iceland, - Policy and Problems. Reykjavik: The Icelandic Research Council.
Thorlindsson, Th., Olafsson, K., Halldorsson, V., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. ( 2000). Tómstundaiðkun íslenskra unglinga; Niðurstöður rannsókna á tómstunda-iðkun íslenskra unglinga í félagslegu samhengi. Young People's Lifestyle and Leisure Activities. Reykjavik.
Thorlindsson, Th., Sigfusdottir, I.D., Bernburg, J.G., & Halldorsson, V. (1998). Vímuefnaneysla ungs fólks: Umhverfi og aðstæður. The Social Circumstances of Substance Use among Icelandic Adolescents. Reykjavik: Icelandic Institute for Educational Research.
Thorlindsson, Th., Sigfusdottir, I.D., Bernburg, J.G., & Halldorsson, V. (1998). Vímuefnaneysla ungs fólks: Umhverfi og aðstæður. The Social Circumstances of Substance Use among Icelandic Adolescents. Reykjavik: Icelandic Institute for Educational Research.
Bernburg, J.G., Thorlindsson, Th., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). The neighborhood effects of disrupted family processes on adolescent substance use. Social Science & Medicine, 69(1), 129-137.
Sigfusdottir, I.D., & Silver, E. (2009). Emotional reactions to stress among adolescent boys and girls: An examination of the mediating mechanisms proposed by General Strain Theory. Youth & Society, 40(4), 571-590.
Gudjonsson, G.H., Sigurdsson, J.F., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). Interrogation and false confessions among adolescents in seven European countries. What background and psychological variables best discriminate between false confessors and non-false confessors? Psychology, Crime & Law, 15(8): 711-728.
Bernburg, J.G., Thorlindsson, Th., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). Relative deprivation and adolescent outcomes in Iceland: A Multilevel Test. Social Forces, 87(3), 1223-1250.
Bernburg, J.G., Thorlindsson, Th., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). The spreading of suicidal behavior: The contextual effect of community household poverty on adolescent suicidal behavior and the mediating role of suicide suggestion. Social Science and Medicine, 68(2), 380-389.
Sigfusdottir, I.D., Thorlindsson, Th., Kristjansson, A., Roe, K.M., & Allegrante, J.P. (2009). Substance use prevention for adolescents: The Icelandic model. Health Promotion International, 24(1), 16-25.
Kristjansson, A.L., Sigfusdottir, I.D., Allegrante, J.P., & Helgason, A.R. (2009). Parental divorce and adolescent cigarette smoking and alcohol use: Assessing the importance of family conflict. Acta Paediatrica, 98(3), 537-542.
Kristjansson, A.L., Sigfusdottir, I.D., Allegrante, J.P., & Helgason, A.R. (2009). Adolescent health behaviour, contentment in school, and academic achievement. American Journal of Health Behaviour, 33(1), 69-79.
Kristjansson, A.L., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). The role of parental support, parental monitoring and time spent with parents in adolescent academic achievement in Iceland: A structural model of gender differences, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, Epub ahead of print; http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713445993
Sherman, M.G., Silver, E., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). Gender and the associated impairments of childhood sexual abuse: A national study of Icelandic youth, social science and medicine, Epub ahead of print: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.08.037
Kristjansson, A.L., Sigfusdottir, I.D., & Allegrante, J.P. (2008). Academic achievement among adolescents: The relationship and impact of body mass index, health behaviors, and self-esteem, Health Education & Behavior, Epub ahead of print.
Gudjonsson, G.H., Sigurdsson J.F., Sigfusdottir, I.D., & Asgeirsdottir, B.B.(2008). False confessions and individual differences: The importance of victimization among youth, Personality and Individual Differences, 45(8), 801-805.
Sigfusdottir, I.D., Asgeirsdóttir, B.B., Gudjonsson, G.H. & Sigurdsson, J.F. (2008). Trends in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and visits to healthcare specialists: A national study among Icelandic adolescents. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 36(4), 361-368.
Eidsdottir, S., Kristjansson, A.L., Sigfusdottir, I.D., & Allegrante, J.P. (2008). Trends in physical activity and participation in sports clubs among Icelandic adolescents. European Journal of Public Health, 18, 289-293.
Sigfusdottir, I.D., Asgeirsdottir, B.B., Sigurdsson, J.F., & Gudjonsson, G.H. (2008). A model of sexual abuse's effects on suicidal behavior and delinquency: The role of emotions as mediating factors. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37(6), 699-712.
Kristjansson, A.L., Sigfusdottir, I.D., Allegrante, J.P., & Helgason, A.R. (2008). Social correlates of cigarette smoking among Icelandic adolescents: A population-based cross-sectional sudy, BMC Public Health, 8(86), 1-8.
Sigfusdottir, I.D., Kristjansson, A.L., Thorlindsson, Th., & Allegrante, J.P. (2008). Trends in prevalence of substance use among Icelandic adolescents, 1995-2006. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy, 3(12). http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/3/1/12/
Bernburg, J.G., Thorlindsson, Th., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). The neighborhood effects of disrupted family processes on adolescent substance use. Social Science & Medicine, 69(1), 129-137.
Sigfusdottir, I.D., & Silver, E. (2009). Emotional reactions to stress among adolescent boys and girls: An examination of the mediating mechanisms proposed by General Strain Theory. Youth & Society, 40(4), 571-590.
Gudjonsson, G.H., Sigurdsson, J.F., & Sigfusdottir, I.D., (2009). Interrogation and false confessions among adolescents in seven European countries. What background and psychological variables best discriminate between false confessors and non-false confessors? Psychology, Crime & Law, 15(8), 711-728.
Bernburg, J.G., Thorlindsson, Th., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). Relative deprivation and adolescent outcomes in Iceland: A multilevel test. Social Forces, 87(3), 1223-1250.
Bernburg, J.G, Thorlindsson, Th., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). The spreading of suicidal behavior: The contextual effect of community household poverty on adolescent suicidal behavior and the mediating role of suicide suggestion. Social Science and Medicine, 68(2), 380-389.
Sigfusdottir, I.D, Thorlindsson, Th, Kristjansson, A., Roe, K.M., & Allegrante, J.P. (2009). Substance use prevention for adolescents: The Icelandic model. Health Promotion International, 24(1), 16-25.
Kristjansson, A.L., Sigfusdottir, I.D., Allegrante, J.P., & Helgason, A.R. (2009). Parental divorce and adolescent cigarette smoking and alcohol use: Assessing the importance of family conflict. Acta Paediatrica, 98(3), 537-542.
Kristjansson, A.L., Sigfusdottir, I.D., Allegrante, J.P., & Helgason,
A.R. (2009). Adolescent health behaviour, contentment in school, and academic achievement.
American Journal of Health Behaviour, 33(1), 69-79.
Kristjansson, A.L., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). The role of parental support, parental
monitoring and time spent with parents in adolescent academic achievement in
Iceland: A structural model of gender differences, Scandinavian Journal of
Educational Research, Epub ahead of print; http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713445993
Sherman, M.G., Silver, E., & Sigfusdottir, I.D. (2009). Gender and the associated impairments of childhood sexual abuse: A national study of Icelandic youth, Social Science and Medicine Social. Epub ahead of print: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.08.037
Presentations at International Conferences
Research, Policy and Practice for the Benefit of Children and Adolescents, European Society for Social Paediatrics and Child Health: Health of School-Age Children. October 9-10, 2008. Grand Hotel, Reykjavik. (Keynote speaker)
The Youth in Europe Project: An Evidence based Prevention Project, World Forum against Drugs, September 8-10, 2008.
Social Integration, Depressed Mood and Physical Activity: A Study among Adolescent Boys and Girls, APHA 135th Annual Meeting and Expo, Washington, DC, November 3-7, 2007.
Linking Research, Policy and Practice, The 14th ECAD Mayors Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, May 10- 11, 2007.
Youth in Iceland: Evidence-based policy making, Conference organized by the City of Reykjavik in relation to the ECAD project, Reykjavik, April 8, 2005.
The Social Context of Gender Differences in Academic Achievement among Icelandic Adolescent, invited speaker at a conference arranged by the Nordic Committee of Ministers, Helsinki, December 12, 2004.
How Should We Evaluate Research Performance at Universities? Invited speaker at a conference organized by the Association of University Professors, at the University of Iceland, February 24, 2004.
Evidence Based Policy Making: The Link Between Research, Policy and Practice in Preventing Substance Use Among Icelandic Adolescents, Presentation given at the conference Storbyens Hjerte og Smerte, Oslo, August 17, 2003.
The Social Context of Gender Differences in Academic Achievement Among Icelandic Adolescents, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Anaheim, California, August 18-22, 2001.
Social Closure, Parental and Peer Networks: A Study of Adolescent Scholastic Achievement and Alcohol Use, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Washington, DC, August 12-16, 2000.
The Social Context of Psychological Distress among Icelandic Adolescents, paper presented at the NYRIS 7 (Nordic Youth Research Information) Conference in Helsinki, June 10, 2000.
Basic Science in Iceland, Progress and Performance, talk given at a conference held by the Icelandic Research. Council and the Ministry of Education in Iceland, November 30, 1999.
(With Stefán H. Jónsson and Thórdís J. Sigurdardóttir). Youth Resistance to Peer Pressure, An Example Based on Hashish Use, talk given at a conference on youth studies, Nordic Youth Research Symposium, Tønsberg, Norway, August 17, 1996.
Committee Membership
Chair Committee forming a new policy on health promotion for Icelandic Health Minister (2007-2008)
Member, Committe on future organization and role of Landspitalinn, University Hospital in Iceland (2007-2008)
Member, Committee on quality standards and measures in education, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education (1998-1999)
Member, Icelandic organizational committee, overseeing academic matters, for the conference Women and Democracy at the Dawn of a new Millennium sponsored by the governments of the United States and Iceland (1998-2001)
Consultant, Wage Terms Committee on the arrangement of professors by wage categories according to work results (1998-2001)
Representative of the Ministry of Finance on the Liquor and Substance Use Prevention Council (1997-1998)
Chairperson, committee of professionals in educational research and teaching, according to a parliamentary resolution (1996-1997)
Chairperson, Equal Rights Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Education
Employee of the Administrative Committee, University of Iceland (1996-1997)
Member, Policy Formulation Committee, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Education, for reconsidering the national curricula of primary and secondary schools (1996-1998)
Chairperson, School Board, Sund Higher Secondary Grammar School (1996-2001)
Member, Committee, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Education, for improving women's position in sports (1996-2001)
Member, Consultative Committee on Nordic Youth Research Information (1992-1993 & 1995-1996)
Youth Research Correspondent, Council of Europe (1995-1997)
Member, Editorial board of the magazine 19. Júní (1994-(95)
Member, Committee, under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, for reconsidering laws concerning the rights and duties of state employees (1991-1993)
Member, Committee on racial prejudice, Ministry of Culture and Education (1990-1994)
Chairperson, State Youth Council (1990-1994)
Member, Reykjavik Child Welfare Council (1990-1994)
Member, Board of Directors for the Midtown Health Care Centre (1989-1990)
Reserve Member, Board of Directors of Child Care (1989-1991)
Chairperson, Vaka, Association of Democratic Students (1998-1990)