Evalotte Mörelius

Associate Professor

The stress system develops during childhood in interaction with the surrounding environment. Effective interactions between children and parents promote not only secure bonding but the ability to handle stress in the future.

Stress in children

The main aim of my research is to learn more about stress and reactivity in children by measuring cortisol in the saliva and to evaluate healthcare methods with the potential of preventing and relieving stress.

When children are exposed to stress factors, a response mechanism is triggered that activates the entire body. If the child is exposed to repeated stress factors that do not permit rest and recuperation, the risk of impact on memory, learning, concentration, behavioural problems and changes to the stress system increases.

Director of research

I am director of research for the following projects:

Kangaroo Study
LiMoNid Study
Sleep in parents of sick children
Nourishing extreme preterm infants

I am also participating in these projects:

Development of infant circadian rhythm of cortisol (USDyk)
Development and Evaluation of a Transitional Family Centred Care Model for Families of Preterm Infants
Fear of the needle among children and adolescents

Teaching

I teach at the Specialist Nursing programme with a specialisation in health care for children and adolescents.

Research projectsShow/Hide content

The Kangaroo Study

Is kangaroo care applicable and in the best interests of the infant and family in a high-tech neonatal environment in Sweden?

Mamma håller om en babys fötter. Hennes händer är formade som ett hjärta. / Mother holding the feet of a baby. Her hands make a shape of a heart.

LiMoNid Study

We want to improve neonatal intensive care to promote and raise the quality of parent-child interactions in order to strengthen the prospects of normal development among preterm infants.

Mamma sover bredvid sitt barn som hon håller i handen. / A mother sleeps next to her baby. She holds the baby's hand.

Sleep in parents of sick children

Being the parent of a sick child brings with it additional demands. We study and describe sleep patterns among these parents.

Networks, assignments and higher education degreesShow/Hide content

Networks

National Association of Paediatric Nurses
Chair of the National Association of Paediatric Nurses, 2008-2013
Nordic Attachment Network (NAN)
Pain in Early Life (PEARL)
Separation and Closeness Experiences in the Neonatal Environment (SCENE)
Network of PhD nurses who conduct research about children

Assignments

Head of the Division of Nursing (ISV)
Course coordinator, Specialist Nursing programme, with a specialisation in health care for children and adolescents
Examining committees
Referee
Lecture about stress

Research supervisor

Thesis no. 124, 2013. Was assistant supervisor for Licentiate of Medicine students. Marie Teder, evaluation of a family-based behavioural intervention programme for children with obesity
Principal supervisor for Charlotte Angelhoff. Sleep in parents of sick children
Assistant supervisor for Katrin Ivars. Development of infant circadian rhythm of cortisol (USDyk)
Assistant supervisor for Denise Rocha Araújo. Development and Evaluation of a Transitional Family Centred Care Model for Families of Preterm Infants

Higher education degrees

Registered Nurse, 1987
Specialist Nurse, health care for children and adolescents, 1990
Master of Medicine, Nursing, 1999
Doctor of Medicine, Paediatrics, 2006
Post-doc, 2011-2014
Associate Professor of Nursing with a specialisation in paediatrics, 2014
Sabbatical, National University of Singapore 2015

Awards

STINT fellowship 2015/16, National University of Singapore, Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education.

NewsShow/Hide content

En ungdom och graffiti / A youth and graffiti

Stress in children and adolescents

Dr Mörelius's book Stress in Children and Adolescents explores ways of preventing and relieving daily stress at home, school and the healthcare system.

En skylt med ordet STRESS / A sign with the word STRESS

Vårdfokus writes about Dr Mörelius

"Take Children's Stress Seriously.” Vårdfokus writes about Dr Mörelius's research.

Pojke springer efter en fågel / A boy runs after a bird

Early interventions help children who experience stress

Corren.se interviews Dr Mörelius about her new book, Stress in Children and Adolescents.

PublicationsShow/Hide content

2020

Collaboration with researchersShow/Hide content

Anneli Frostell

Senior Lecturer

Ulrika Birberg Thornberg

Senior Lecturer

Evalotte Mörelius

Stress in children

Director of research

Teaching