Ulla-Karin Schön
Contact
Name and title: Ulla-Karin Schön
ORCID0000-0002-6986-5657 Länk till annan webbplats.
Workplace: Department of Social Work Länk till annan webbplats.
Visiting address Room F 2341Campus Albano Hus 2, plan 3, Albanovägen 18
Postal address Institutionen för socialt arbete114 19 Stockholm
About me
I am a social worker and professor of social work, with research interests in mental health and disability services. My work focuses on recovery-oriented care such as user participation, shared decision-making, and social justice. A key aspect of my research is Co-production with experts by experience, which serves as a foundation for both research and practice. Central to my work is the exploration of participation, social justice, and, more specifically, epistemic justice.
In recent years, I have led interdisciplinary research projects that examine user involvement, person-centered social practices, the role of digital support in promoting client/patient participation, and strategies for the implementation of new interventions in social services and healthcare. Additionally, I am involved in research exploring ways to support young people who are neither working nor studying in making the transition toward employment, social participation, and a sense of belonging. I also contribute to the UserInvolve program (umu.se), a research initiative focused on enhancing user involvement in community mental health services.
In my teaching, I primarily focus on mental health, disabilities, user involvement, and psychosocial perspectives.
My teaching focuses primarily on mental health and recovery, mental health services, disability, participation, and psychosocial perspectives on mental health and the life course.
I am involved in research projects that examine how young people who are far from work and studies can be supported in taking gradual steps toward employment, increased participation, and a strengthened sense of coherence. In addition, I am a co‑researcher in the research programme UserInvolve.
Andersson, P., & Schön, U.-K. (2025). Time, Trust, and Telling: Narrative Pathways to Shared Decision-Making. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251404339
Tistad, M., Hultman, L., Nelson, J., Sandman, F., Åkerlund, M., Schön, U-K., von Koch, L. “What Is Shared in an Online Peer‐Support Group Run by Stroke Survivors? An Exploratory Study With a Participatory Approach.” Health Expectations. 28.5 (2025): https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70440
Hultman L, Schön U-K, Sandman F, Åkerlund M, Nelson J, Tistad M. Facebook as an arena for peer support?—Knowledge exchange and normative illness narratives about stroke. DIGITAL HEALTH. 2025;11. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251376274
Muller-Kluits, N., Ljungberg, M., Slabbert, I., & Schön, U.-K. (2025). Disability policies in South Africa and Sweden: A critical policy analysis from a social work perspective. International Journal of Social Welfare, 34(3), e70022. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.70022
Osman F, Schön U-K and Salari R (2024) Using normalisation process theory to identify factors facilitating the scaling up of parenting programs for immigrant parents. Psychol. 15:1456586. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1456586
van Ufford S.Q., Schön U.-K., Heimer M. & Linell H., How Could You Help Me? Children’s Voices on Violence in Child Welfare Files: A Thematic Analysis. Child Protection and Practice, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2024.100076.
Msghina, M., Bergerlind L-L., Schön U-K., Dahlström, C., Konradsson Geuken, Å., Fundell, S., Wallgren, S.,Tranaeus, S. & Höistad, M. (2024) Prioritised research questions in serious mentalillness: a priority setting based on evidence gaps BMJ Ment Health 27:1–3
Ringer, N. & Schön, U-K (2024) Gaining Knowledge of a New and Contested Diagnosis – A Qualitative Examination of Swedish Parents of Children with Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) Journal of Child and Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02875-2
Newbigging K, Salla A, Schön U-K and King C (2024) Addressing epistemic injustice in mental health. Psychiatry 15:1382528, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1382528
Hultman, L., Von Kock, L., Schön, U-K., Åkesson, E. & Tistad, M. (2023) Exploring the Sharing and Legitimacy of Experience-Based Knowledge of Living with Acquired Brain Injury in Two Practice Communities. Health & Social Care in the Community, vol. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6677161
Quarles van Ufford, S., Heimer, M., Schön, U-K. & Linell, H. (2023) Discretion and Strategies for Investigating Child Abuse: Social Workers’ Conceptions of Child Abuse Investigations and Police Reporting, British Journal of Social Work, 2023;, bcad243, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad243
Andersson, P., Schön, U-K., Svedberg, P & Grim, K. (2023): Exploring stakeholder perspectives to facilitate the implementation of shared decision-making in coordinated individual care planning, European Journal of Social Work, https//doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2023.2281868
Schön, U-K (2023) Young adults’ experiences of living with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. An interview study, International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 18:1, 2267268, https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.226726
Schön, U-K., Tranquist, J. & Astvik, W. (2023) Managing a fragile motivation within an unfit organisation: young adults’ experiences of support to achieve employment, European Journal of Social Work, DOI: 10.1080/13691457.2023.2266785.
Markström, U., Näslund, H., Schön, U-K., Rosenberg, D., Beijerholm, U., Gustafsson, A., Jansson M., Argentzell, E., Grim, K. Engdal, P., Nouf, F., Liliehorn, S. & Svedberg, P. (2023) Developing sustainable service user involvement practices in mental health services in Sweden: the “Userinvolve” research program protocol. Psychiatry 14:1282700. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1282700
Ljungberg, M., & Schön, U.-K. (2023).Who cares? A scoping review about the experiences of parental caregivers of autistic adults. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 36:5, https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13126
Beresford, P., Golding, F., Hughes, M., Levin, L., Mohamed, O., Schön, U-K, & Unwin, P. (2023) Editorial to a special issue. The British Journal of Social Work, Vol 53, Issue 3, Pages 1275–1281, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad112
Moberg J and Schön U-K (2022) Staff’s experiences of implementing patient-initiated brief admission for adolescents from the perspective of epistemic (in)justice. Psychiatry 13:1054028. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1054028
Bromark, K., Spånberger Weitz, Y. Erlandsson, S. & Schön, U-K. (2022) Samskapande processer – om makt, ansvar och epistemisk rättvisa i deltagande forskning. Socialvetenskaplig Tidskrift Nr 3-4
Osman F, Schön U-K, Klingberg-Allvin M, Flacking R, Tistad M (2022) The implementation of a culturally tailored parenting support programme for Somali immigrant parents living in Sweden—A process evaluation. PLOS ONE 17(9): e0274430. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274430
Grim K, Näslund H, Allaskog C, Andersson J, Argentzell E, Broström K, Jenneteg FG, Jansson M, Schön U-K, Svedberg P, Svensson S, Wåhlstedt S and Rosenberg D (2022) Legitimizing user knowledge in mental health services: Epistemic (in)justice and barriers to knowledge integration. Psychiatr 13:981238. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.981238
Quarles van Ufford, S., Heimer, M., Schön, U-K., Linell, H. (2022) The Swedish social services' police reporting and children's access to protection and support in child abuse cases: A quantitative content analysis, Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 133, 2022,105828, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105828
Moberg, J., Skogens L. & Schön U-K. (2022) Review: Young people’s recovery processes from mental health problems – a scoping review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, DOI: 10.1111/camh.12594
Erlandsson, S., Knutsson, O. & Schön, U-K. (2022) Perceptions of participation: how nursing home staff and managers perceive and strive for participation of older residents, European Journal of Social Work, DOI: 10.1080/13691457.2022.2094345
Bromark, K. Spånberger Weitz, Y. Erlandsson, S. & Schön, U-K. (2022) Practitioners exploring intertwined challenges and possible solutions for user participation in social services. Nordic Social work research. DOI: 10.1080/2156857X.2022.2069148
Kylén M, Schön U-K, Pessah-Rasmussen H, Elf M. Patient Participation and the Environment: A Scoping Review of Instruments. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(4):2003. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042003
Amanda Jones, Ola Knutsson & Ulla-Karin Schön (2021) Coordinated individual care planning and shared decision making: staff perspectives within the comorbidity field of practice, European Journal of Social Work, DOI: 10.1080/13691457.2021.2016649
Osman F, Vixner L, Flacking R, Klingberg-Allvin M, Schön U-K & Zelari R. (2021). Impact of a culturally tailored parenting programme on the mental health of Somali parents and children living in Sweden: a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open 2021;11:e045067.
Nykänen, P., Schön U-K. & Björk, A. (2021). Shared decision making in social services – some remaining questions. Nordic Social work research. https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2021.1958908
Jones, A., Jess, K. & Schön, U-K (2021) How do users with comorbidity perceive participation in social services? A qualitative interview study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Health & Well-being. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2021.1901468
Knutsson, O & Schön, U-K (2020) Co-creating a Process of User Involvement and Shared Decision-Making in Coordinated Care Planning with Users and Caregivers in Social Services International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2020.1812270
Grim, K., Tistad, M., Schön, U-K. & Rosenberg, D (2019) The Legitimacy of User Knowledge in Decision-Making Processes in Mental Health Care: An Analysis of Epistemic Injustice, Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-019-00145-9
Osman F., Klingberg-Allvin M., Flacking R. & Schön U-K (2019) Qualitative study showed that a culturally tailored parenting programme improved the confidence and skills of Somali immigrants, Acta Pediatrica, DOI: 10.1111/apa.14788
Schön, U-K., Grim, K., Wallin, L. Rosenberg, D. & Svedberg, P. (2018) Psychiatric service staff perceptions of implementing a shared decision-making tool: a process evaluation study, International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Wellbeing, 13:1, 1421352 https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2017.1421352
Osman F, Salari R, Klingberg-Allvin M, Schön, U-K & Flacking, R. (2017) Effects of a culturally tailored parenting support programme in Somali-born parents’ mental health and sense of competence in parenting: a randomised controlled trial BMJ Open 7:e017600. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017600
Grim, K., Rosenberg, D., Svedberg, P., & Schön, U-K. (2017). Development and Usability Testing of a Web-Based Decision Support for Users and Health Professionals in Psychiatric Services. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/prj0000278
Osman F., Flacking R. & Schön U-K., Klingberg-Allvin M., A support program for Somali-born parents on children's behavioral problems. Pediatrics, 2016, feb 17: https;// doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-1536
Osman F., Klingberg-Allvin M., Flacking R. & Schön U-K. Parenthood in transition Somali born parent’s experiences and needs for culturally sensitive parenting support program. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2016 Feb 16;16(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12914-016-0082-2.
Rosenberg, D., Schön, U-K, Nyholm, M., Grim, K., Svedberg, P. Shared decision making in Swedish community mental health services – evaluating self-reporting instruments for measuring dimensions of participation. Journal of mental Health, Volume 26, 2017 - Issue 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2016.1207223
Grim, K. Rosenberg, D., Svedberg P., & Schön, U-K.( 2016) Shared decision-making in mental health care – A user perspective on decisional needs in community-based services. Int J Qualitative Stud Health Well-being 11: 30563 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v11.30563
Olsson, H. & Schön, U-K. The ongoing process of decreasing violence in forensic care
-how does it resemble the domains of a recovery-oriented care? Journal of Mental Health, feb 2016 DOI:3109/09638237.2016.1139075
Rosenberg, D., Svedberg P., & Schön, U-K. Establishing a Recovery Orientation in Mental Health Services; Evaluating the Recovery Self-Assessment (RSA) in a Swedish context. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal 2015 Dec; 38(4):328-35.
Dahlqvist-Jönsson P., Schön U-K., Rosenberg D., Sandlund M. & Svedberg P. Users’ experiences of participation in decision making in mental health services. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 2015 Nov 3;22(9):688-97.
Schön, U-K. (2016): User Involvement in Social Work and Education —A Matter of Participation? Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, Volume 13, Issue 1, DOI:10.1080/15433714.2014.939382
Schön, U-K. (2015): User and carer involvement in social work education: reasons for participation. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 1080/15017419.2015.1063539
Schön, U-K., Svedberg P., & Rosenberg, D. Evaluating the INSPIRE measure of staff support for personal recovery in a Swedish psychiatric context. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 69 (4):275-281,
Schön, U-K & Rosenberg, D (2013) Transplanting Recovery? Research and practice in the Nordic countries. Journal of Mental Health Dec 2013, Vol. 22, No. 6: 563–569
Schön, U-K (2013) Recovery in involuntary psychiatric care, is there a gender difference? Journal of Mental Health 22, No. 5 , Pages 420-427
Schön, U-K., Denhov, A., Topor, A. Decisive factors in recovery from mental illness. International Journal of Social Psychiatry 2009 Jul; 55(4):336-47
Schön, U-K. Recovery from severe mental illness, a gender perspective. International journal of Caring Sciences Vol 24, Issue 3, pages 557–564, September 2010
Schön, U-K., How Men and Women in Recovery Make Meaning to Severe Mental Illness. Journal of Mental Health October 2009, Vol. 18, No. 5 , Pages 433-440
Schön, U-K. The power of identification. Peer support in recovery from mental illness. Scandinavian journal of Disability Research Volume 12, Issue 2, 2010