About me
I am a Professor of Gerontology and hold a PhD in Psychology. I am also a Docent (Adjunct Professor) of Social Gerontology at the University of Helsinki. I worked in Denmark between 2005 and 2021, and began my position as Professor of Gerontology in spring 2021.
My research interests focus particularly on the social, cultural, and material environments of ageing and their significance for individuals. In the early years of my career, I studied older adults’ mobility in traffic and its social and cultural regulation. In recent years, my research has more broadly addressed a range of topics in social gerontology, including senior co‑housing, use of digital services, retirement, the significance of family relationships in old age, as well as the needs and preferences of future older populations.
I am currently accepting new doctoral students only to a very limited extent, and only for projects related to the following topics:
- Preparation for old age and ageing
- Lifestyle, social class, and risks associated with long life
- Research topics related to retirement and late working life
- Childlessness and ageing, particularly from the perspectives of lifestyles and social inequalities
Selected publications
Siren, A. & Amilon, A. (2025) Longevity, Linked Lives, and Generational Time: Does Extended Work Life Impact Older Adults’ Help to Their Adult Children? Demography 62(6), 2099-2123. https://doi.org/10.1215/00703370-12349872
Amilon, A. Larsen, M, & Siren, A. (2025) Work Adversities, Job Lock, and Well-being: A Study of Low-Skilled Older Workers in the Era of Delayed Retirement. Journal of Aging & Social Policy. https://doi-org.libproxy.tuni.fi/10.1080/08959420.2025.2587366
Amilon, A., Siren, A., Larsen, M., Holt, H. (2024) Mental Wellbeing among Workers approaching Retirement: a Scoping Review. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.150077
Amilon, A., Kjær, A.A., Ladenburg, J., Siren, A. (2022). Trust in the publicly financed care system and willingness to pay for long-term care: A discrete choice experiment in Denmark. Social Science and Medicine, 311: 115332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115332
Siren et al (2022) Negotiations of vulnerability in aging with vision impairment. Journal of Aging Studies, 61: 101036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2022.101036
Siren, A. (2022). Boformer og den aldrende befolkning. In T.A. Andersen & J. R. Skaksen (Eds.): Et aldrende Danmark. Gyldendal, Copenhagen. Pp. 77-86.
Amilon, A. & Siren, A. (2022). The link between vision impairment and depressive symptomatology in late life: does having a partner matter? European Journal of Ageing,19: 521–532
Siren, A. (2021). Beyond accessibility: Transport system as a societal structure supporting inclusion in late life. In K. Walsh, T. Scharf, S. Van Regenmortel & A. Wanka (eds.): Social Exclusion in Later Life: Interdisciplinary and Policy Perspectives. International Perspectives on Aging, Volume 28. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51406-
Kjær, A.A. & Siren, A. (2021). Aging without children: The link between parental status and tangible support. Journal of Family Issues. doi: 10.1177/0192513X21993203
Filges, T., Siren, A., Fridberg, T. (2020). Voluntary work for the physical and mental health of older volunteers: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. doi: 10.1002/cl2.1124.
Amilon, A. Ladenburg, J., Siren, A., Østergaard, S., (2020). Willingness to pay for long-term home care services: Evidence from a stated preferences analysis. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2020.100238
Siren, A., Amilon, A., Larsen, G. K., Mehlsen, L. (2019). The promise of assistive technology in institutionalized care: economic efficiency, improved working conditions, and better quality of care? Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. Publication before print. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2019.1659862
Kjær, A.A. & Siren, A. (2019). Formal and informal care: exploring trajectories of home care use among Danish older adults. Ageing and Society. Publication before print. doi:10.1017/S0144686X19000771.
Kjær, A. A., Siren, A., Seested, M. H., Fridberg, T. & Casier, F. (2019). Cohort profile: The Danish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (DLSA). International Journal of Epidemiology, 48: 1050-1050g. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyz026
Siren, A. & Casier, F. (2019). Socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of giving practical support to adult children in the era of changing late life. Ageing and Society, 39(9): 1933-1950. doi:10.1017/S0144686X18000338
Siren, A. & Knudsen, S. G. (2017) Older adults and the emerging digital service delivery. A mixed methods study on ICT use, skills and attitudes. Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 29(1): 35-50. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2016.1187036
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2016). How do baby boomers' mobility patterns change with retirement? Ageing and Society, 36: 988-1007. doi:10.1017/S0144686X15000100
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2016) Driving Cessation Anno 2010: Which older drivers give up their license and why? Evidence from Denmark. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 35(1): 18-38. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0733464814521690.
Haustein, S. & Siren, A. (2015). Older people’s mobility: segments, factors, trends. Transport Reviews: A Transnational Transdisciplinary Journal, 35 (4): 466-487. doi: 10.1080/01441647.2015.1017867
Siren, A., Hjorthol, R., & Levin, L. (2015). Different types of out-of-home activities and well-being amongst urban residing old persons with mobility impediments. Journal of Transport & Health, 2: 14-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2014.11.004
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2015) Driving licences and medical screening in old age. Review of literature and the European licensing policies. Journal of Transport & Health, 2: 68-78. doi:10.1016/j.jth.2014.09.003
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2015). What are the impacts of giving up the driver license? Ageing and Society, 35(9): 1821 – 1838. DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X14000610
Siren, A. & Sørensen, C. H. (2015). Immense changes in traffic—considerable stability in discourses. Road speed in Danish parliamentary documents 1900-2010. Transport Policy, 40: 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2015.02.005
Meng, A. & Siren, A. (2015). Older drivers’ reasons for reducing the overall amount of their driving and for avoiding selected driving situations. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 34(3): NP62–NP82. doi: 10.1177/0733464812463433
Haustein, S. & Siren, A. (2014). Seniors' unmet mobility needs - how important is a driving licence? Journal of Transport Geography, 41:45-51.
Figueroa, M., Nielsen T.S., & Siren, A. (2014). Comparing Urban Form Correlations of the Travel Patterns of Older and Younger Adults. Transport Policy, 35, 10-20.
Siren, A. & Haustein, S. (2013). Baby boomers' mobility patterns and preferences: What are the implications for future transport demand? Transport Policy, 29: 136-144.
Siren, A. & Meng, A. (2013). Older drivers' self-assessed driving skills, driving-related stress and self-regulation in traffic. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 17: 88-97.
Meng, A., Siren, A. & Teasdale, T. (2013). Older drivers with cognitive impairment: perceived changes in driving skills, driving-related discomfort and self-regulation of driving. European Geriatric Medicine, 3: 154-160.
Meng, A. & Siren, A. (2012). Cognitive problems, self-rated changes in driving skills, driving-related discomfort and self-regulation of driving in old drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 49: 322-329.
Siren, A. & Meng, A. (2012). Cognitive screening of older drivers does not produce safety benefits. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 45: 634-638.
Siren, A. & Kjær, M. R. (2011). How is the older road users’ perception of risk constructed? Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 14(3): 222-228.
Hjorthol, R., Levin, L. & Siren, A. (2010). Mobility in different generations of older persons. The development of daily travel in different cohorts in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Journal of Transport Geography, 18: 624-633.
Siren, A. & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2009). Mobility and well-being in old age. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 25(1): 3-11.
Siren, A. & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2006). Does gendered driving create gendered mobility? Community-related mobility of Finnish women and men aged 65+. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 9(5): 374-382.
Siren, A. & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2005). Sense and Sensibility. A Narrative Study of Older Women’s Car Driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 8(3): 213-228.
Siren, A., & Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. (2004). Car as the grand equaliser? Demographic factors and mobility in Finnish men and women aged 65+. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 7(2): 107-118.
Siren, A., Hakamies-Blomqvist, L., & Lindeman, M. (2004). Driving cessation and health in older women. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 23(1): 58-69.
Hakamies-Blomqvist, L. & Siren, A. (2003). Deconstructing a Gender Difference: Driving Cessation and Personal Driving History of Older Women. Journal of Safety Research, 34(4):383-388.