Thomas Strandberg
Position: Professor School/office: School of Behavioural, Social and Legal SciencesEmail: thomas.strandberg@oru.se
Phone: +46 19 302208
Room: L2337

About Thomas Strandberg
Thomas has a PhD in Disability Research and is a Professor of Social Work. Thomas has previously worked as an teacher at the Health Care programme and as a manager in social care for people with disabilities. He is engaged in the research environment: Disability research.
In 2018, he was a Visiting Research Fellow at Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research – Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research Group in Sydney, Australia.
Research interest
Thomas's research is primarily within interdisciplinary disability research, where he is interested in how disability, of various kinds, affects people's activity and participation in everyday life, working life and society in general. He also has an interest in social gerontological research and participates in various research projects in the field.
He currently supervises two PhD students.
Teaching
Thomas teaches within different educational programmes and courses at Örebro University and at different levels. From undergraduate level to postgraduate level, within the following subjects and areas:
- Social Work and Disability Care
- Disability research
- Research methods and qualitative method
- Leadership and organization
Other commissions
- Subject Representative of Social Work, 2018 – 2019.
- Expert in evaluation of rehabilitation for persons with traumatic brain injuries, at the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services, 2017 – 2019.
- Member of the Swedish Network of Disability Researchers, 2007 – on going.
- Head of School, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, 2013 – 2017.
- Director of Division, Activity and Health, 2009-2013.
- Board member of Nordic Network on Disability Research, 2009 – 2017.
Research projects
Active projects
- Communicative activity and participation in children with developmental language disorder
- Newbreed
- Supported Employment and gender - how do sex and gender influence a vocational rehabilitation process for men and women with mental and intellectual disabilities?
- Evaluation of a home-based parenting support program - Parenting Young Children - for parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities when there is a risk for neglect
- Sexuality in elder care
Completed projects
- Towards indigenous social work practices to better address elder abuse in Uganda
- Life-situation for people with neuropsychiatric problems and acquired traumatic brain injury
- Transport-related welfare for people with disabilities - a study focusing on visual impairment
- Returning to working life after Acquired Brain Injury
Research groups
Publications
Articles in journals
- Nyberg, J. , Andersson, J. & Strandberg, T. (2023). Experienced processes and outcomes of driving license withdrawal due to visual field loss: A Swedish survey study of trust in authorities. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 17.
- Wamara, C. K. , Strandberg, T. & Bennich, M. (2023). Indigenised approaches to addressing elder abuse in Uganda. Journal of Social Work, 23 (1), 19-36.
- Witte, I. , Strandberg, T. & Gustafsson, J. (2023). Social representations of gender and their influence in Supported Employment: employment specialists' experiences in Sweden. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-15.
- Matérne, M. , Udo, C. , Thermaenius, I. & Strandberg, T. (2022). Hälso- och sjukvårdskuratorns funktion i rehabilitering för personer med stroke. Socialmedicinsk Tidskrift, 99 (1), 76-86.
- Wamara, C. K. , Twikirize, J. , Bennich, M. & Strandberg, T. (2022). Reimagining Indigenised social work in Uganda: Voices of practitioners. International Social Work.
- Larsson-Lund, M. , Pettersson, A. & Strandberg, T. (2022). Team-based rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury: a qualitative synthesis of evidence of experiences of the rehabilitation process. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 54.
- Nyberg, J. , Levin, L. , Larsson, K. & Strandberg, T. (2021). Distrust of Authorities: Experiences of Outcome and Processes of People Who Had Their Driving License Withdrawn Due to Visual Field Loss. Social Sciences, 10 (2).
- Nyberg, J. , Björklund, G. , Åretun, Å. , Berg, H. & Strandberg, T. (2021). How does driving license withdrawal affect subjective well-being? A Swedish comparative survey study of visual field loss. European Transport Research Review, 13 (1).
- Wamara, C. K. , Bennich, M. & Strandberg, T. (2021). Missing voices: older people's perspectives on being abused in Uganda. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 33 (4), 288-310.
- Strandberg, T. & Simpson, G. (2020). An Audit of Literature Reviews Published in Australian Social Work (2007-2017). Australian Social Work, 73 (1), 18-31.
- Wilbe Ramsay, K. , Berg, J. , Bunketorp Käll, L. , Lexell, J. , Larsson Lund, M. , Möller Böhm, M. , Stenberg, M. & Strandberg, T. (2020). Brister i rehabilitering för vuxna med traumatisk hjärnskada [Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation]: Stort behov av forskning, stöd och samordning [assessment of quantitative and qualitative research]. Läkartidningen, 117, 49-50.
- Matérne, M. , Strandberg, T. & Lundqvist, L. (2019). Risk Markers for Not Returning to Work Among Patients with Acquired Brain Injury: A Population-Based Register Study. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 29 (4), 728-739.
- Matérne, M. , Strandberg, T. & Lundqvist, L. (2018). Change in quality of life in relation to returning to work after acquired brain injury: a population-based register study. Brain Injury, 32 (13-14), 1731-1739.
- Mantell, A. , Simpson, G. K. , Vungkhanching, M. , Jones, K. F. , Strandberg, T. & Simonson, P. (2018). Social work-generated evidence in traumatic brain injury from 1975 to 2014: A systematic scoping review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 26 (4), 433-448.
- Strandberg, T. , Möller, K. & Widén, S. (2017). Doctoral theses within the Swedish Institute for Disability Research 2000-2012: A review of content and interdisciplinarity. International Journal of Health Sciences, 5 (2), 1-10.
- Matérne, M. , Lundqvist, L. & Strandberg, T. (2017). Opportunities and barriers for successful return to work after acquired brain injury: A patient perspective. Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation, 56 (1), 125-134.
- Matérne, M. , Lundqvist, L. & Strandberg, T. (2016). Support Persons' Perceptions of Giving Vocational Rehabilitation Support to Clients With Acquired Brain Injury in Sweden. Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 15 (3-4), 351-369.
- Strandberg, T. (2015). Vertikal och horisontell kunskapsintegrering inom handikappforskningen. Socialmedicinsk Tidskrift, 92 (2), 216-224.
- Strandberg, T. , Eklund, J. & Manthorpe, J. (2012). Promoting empathy in social care for older people. Working with Older People, 16 (3), 101-110.
- Strandberg, T. (2009). Adults with acquired traumatic brain injury: a theoretical analysis from a social recognition perspective. Social work in health care, 48 (2), 169-191.
- Strandberg, T. (2009). Adults with acquired traumatic brain injury: experiences of a changeover process and consequences in everyday life. Social work in health care, 48 (3), 276-297.
- Strandberg, T. (2004). Traumatisk hjärnskada hos kvinnor: perspektiv på kön, sexualitet och funktionshinder: en litteraturstudie med feministisk ansats. Vård i Norden, 24 (1), 47-50.
- Strandberg, T. (2003). Föräldralösa barns uppväxtmiljö i Lettland. Nordisk Østforum, 17 (3), 393-406.
Articles, book reviews
- Strandberg, T. (2009). Vårdkommunikation i teori och praktik: recension av en kursbok. Socialvetenskaplig tidskrift (2), 222-224.
- Strandberg, T. (2005). Orphans in Russia: policies for family-like alternatives. Nordisk Østforum (1), 135-137.
- Strandberg, T. (2002). Medvetenhet och bemötande. En studie om sjuksköterskans funktion och kompetens i närståendeundervisningen. Socialvetenskaplig tidskrift, 9 (2), 272-276.
Articles, reviews/surveys
- Witte, I. , Strandberg, T. , Granberg, S. & Gustafsson, J. (2023). Intersectional perspectives on the employment rate in Supported Employment for people with psychiatric, neuropsychiatric, or intellectual disabilities: A scoping review. Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation, 74 (2), 435-454.
- Nyberg, J. , Strandberg, T. , Berg, H. & Aretun, Å. (2019). Welfare consequences for individuals whose driving licenses are withdrawn due to visual field loss: A Swedish example. Journal of Transport and Health, 14.
- Tideman, M. & Strandberg, T. (2018). Litteraturöversikt: Funktionsnedsättning och funktionshinder i välfärdssamhället. Socionomen (4), 1-8.
- Matérne, M. & Strandberg, T. (2015). Möjligheter och hinder för återkomst i arbetslivet efter förvärvad hjärnskada. Hjärnkraft (2), 10-11.
Chapters in books
- Strandberg, T. (2018). Case management – relationsarbete inom rehabilitering av personer med förvärvad hjärnskada. In: Anders Bruhn & Åsa Källström, Relationer i socialt arbete: i gränslandet mellan profession och person (pp. 233-247). Stockholm: Liber.
- Matérne, M. , Lundqvist, L. & Strandberg, T. (2018). Support Persons’ Perceptions of Giving Vocational Rehabilitation Support to Clients With Acquired Brain Injury in Sweden: . In: Grahame K. Simpson, Francis K. Yuen, Contemporary Perspectives on Social Work in Acquired Brain Injury (pp. 183-201). . Routledge.
- Strandberg, T. (2011). Avslutning: Begrepp, teorier och perspektiv inom social omsorg. In: Thomas Strandberg, Förhållningssätt och möten: Arbetsmetoder i social omsorg (pp. 297-308). Lund: Studentlitteratur AB.
- Strandberg, T. (2011). Inledning: Att arbeta inom social omsorg samt äldre och handikappomsorg. In: Thomas Strandberg, Förhållningssätt och möten: Arbetsmetoder i social omsorg (pp. 19-40). Lund: Studentlitteratur AB.
Collections (editor)
- Strandberg, T. (ed.) (2022). Förhållningssätt och möten: arbetsmetoder i social omsorg (2ed.). Lund: Studentlitteratur AB.
- Kristoffersson, E. (ed.) & Strandberg, T. (ed.) (2019). Ageing in a changing society: Interdisciplinary popular science contributions from the Newbreed research school (1ed.). Örebro: Örebro University.
- Strandberg, T. (ed.) (2011). Förhållningssätt och möten: arbetsmetoder i social omsorg (1ed.). Lund: Studentlitteratur AB.
Conference papers
- Strandberg, T. (2022). Ageing research at Örebro University, Sweden. Paper presented at MIRAI 2.0 Research and Innovation week, “Sharing ONE future: Integrative Knowledge and Sustainable Transformation towards a better world”, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, November 15-18, 2022.
- Ayoub, M. & Strandberg, T. (2022). Föräldrastödsintervention för föräldrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning eller kognitiva svårigheter: inblickar i ett pågående forskningsprojekt. Paper presented at Med barn och familj i fokus. En konferens om behov, dilemman och möjligheter, Falu Gruva Cuprum, Falun, April 28, 2022.
- Matérne, M. & Strandberg, T. (2022). Socialt stöd vid stroke. Paper presented at XIV Stroketeamkongress, Conventum Örebro, September 8–9, 2022.
- Lundqvist, L. , Matérne, M. & Strandberg, T. (2019). Risk markers for not returning to work among people with acquired brain injury. Paper presented at 9th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health: Shaping the future. Promoting human rights and social perspectives in health and mental health, York, UK, July 22-26, 2019.
- Strandberg, T. (2018). Case-management – rehabilitation support after Acquired Brain Injury: with the aim to strengthen empowerment. In: FORSA/NOUSA – Nordic Social Work Conference 2018 Book of Abstracts. Paper presented at Power and Social Work - Nordic Social Work Conference FORSA/NOUSA, University of Helsinki, Finland, November 21-23, 2018. (pp. 18-18).
- Strandberg, T. (2018). Case-management – rehabilitation support for people with Acquired Brain Injury. Paper presented at Nordic Social Work Conference (FORSA/NOUSA 2018), Helsinki, Finland, November 21-23, 2018.
- Strandberg, T. (2017). Return to work after acquired brain injury: support person’s experience of supporting. In: Disability Matters Conference, Making the Convention Real Conference Programme, abstract book. Paper presented at Disability Matters Conference, Making the Convention Real, University of Otago, New Zealand, November 26-29, 2017. (pp. 52-53).
- Matérne, M. , Lundqvist, L. & Strandberg, T. (2017). Successful return to work after acquired brain injury: support person’s perception of supporting. Paper presented at Nordic Network on Disability Research 14th Research Conference(NNDR 2016), Örebro, Sweden, May 3-5, 2017.
- Matérne, M. , Lundqvist, L. & Strandberg, T. (2017). Successful return to work after acquired brain injury: support persons’ perception of supporting. Paper presented at Nobel Festivities, Örebro, Sweden, 7 december, 2017,.
- Matérne, M. , Lundqvist, L. & Strandberg, T. (2016). Successful return to work after acquired brain injury: opportunities and barriers from a patient perspective. In: Brain Injury. Paper presented at International Brain Injury Association’s Eleventh World Congress on Brain Injury, The Hague World Forum, The Netherlands, March 2-5, 2016. (pp. 516-516). Taylor & Francis.
- Strandberg, T. (2016). Vertical and horizontal knowledge integration in disability research. In: Lancaster Disability Studies Conference Book of Abstracts. Paper presented at Lancaster Disability Studies Conference, Centre for Disability Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, September 6-8, 2016. (pp. 180-180).
- Strandberg, T. (2016). Vertical and horizontal knowledge integration in disability studies: A case illustrated from acquired brain injury. In: Brain Injury. Paper presented at International Brain Injury Association’s Eleventh World Congress on Brain Injury, The Hague World Forum, The Netherlands, March 2-5, 2016. (pp. 567-568). Taylor & Francis.
- Matérne, M. , Strandberg, T. & Lundqvist, L. (2015). Opportunities and barriers for successful return to work after acquired brain injury: A client perspective. Paper presented at Nordic Network on Disability Research 13th Research Conference(NNDR 2015), Bergen, Norway, May 6-8, 2015.
- Matérne, M. , Strandberg, T. & Lundqvist, L. (2015). Patients experiences of opportunities and barriers for successful return to work after acquired brain injury. Paper presented at Nobel Festivities 2015, Örebro, Sweden, 10 December, 2015.
- Strandberg, T. (2015). Vertical and horizontal knowledge integration in disability research. Paper presented at The 13th NNDR Research Conference, Bergen, Norway, May 6-8, 2015.
- Strandberg, T. & Matérne, M. (2014). Returning to working life after acquired brain injury: The rehabilitation-process, possibilities and hindrance for participation. In: Brain Injury. London: Informa Healthcare.
- Strandberg, T. , Möller, K. & Widén, S. (2013). Doctoral theses within the Swedish Institute for Disability Research, 2000-2012: a survey study. Paper presented at 12th Research Conference, Nordic Network of Disability Research, Turku, Finland, 30-31 May, 2013.
- Strandberg, T. & Matérne, M. (2013). Återkomst i arbetslivet efter förvärvad hjärnskada. In: Hjärnskadeforum 2013. Paper presented at Hjärnskadeforum 2013, Stockholm, Sweden, 15-16 januari, 2013.
- Mantell, A. , Simpson, G. , Jones, K. , Strandberg, T. , Simonson, P. & Vungkhanching, M. (2012). Social Work Practice with Traumatic Brain Injury: The Results of a Structured Review. In: Brain Injury. Informa Healthcare.
- Strandberg, T. (2011). Returning to working life after acquired brain injury. Paper presented at 11th Research conference, NNDR (Nordic Network on Disability Research), Reykjavík Island, 27-28 May 2011.
- Strandberg, T. (2010). Returning to working life after acquired brain injury (ABI): possibilities and challenges. Paper presented at 6th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health. Dublin, Ireland, 28th June – 2nd July 2010.
- Strandberg, T. (2008). Living with traumatic brain injury: a theoretical analysis from a social recognition perspective. Paper presented at 21st World Congress of Rehabilitation International, Quebec City, Canada, 25-28 August, 2008.
- Strandberg, T. (2008). Utformandet av en webbaserad kurs i case management för rehabiliteringsaktörer. In: Margareta Asp, Vårdpedagogikens mångsidighet forskning, utbildning och yrkespraktik. Paper presented at Vårdpedagogikens mångsidighet, nationell konferens, 4-6 oktober 2007. (pp. 104-111).
- Strandberg, T. (2007). Adults with acquired traumatic brain injury: a theoretical analysis from a social recognition perspective. Paper presented at 10th International Conference on Disability research, NNDR – Nordic Network on Disability Research, Gothenburg, Sweden, 10-12 May, 2007.
- Strandberg, T. (2006). Adults with acquired traumatic brain injury: experiences of a changeover process and consequences in every day life. Paper presented at 5th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, Hong Kong, 10-14 December 2006.
- Strandberg, T. (2006). Vuxna med förvärvad traumatisk hjärnskada: omställningsprocesser och konsekvenser i vardagslivet. Paper presented at 10:e forsknings- och utvecklingskonferensen. Funktionshinder, vardagsliv, habilitering. Örebro 4-5 april 2006.
- Strandberg, T. (2005). Adults with acquired traumatic brain injury: experience of a changeover process and consequences in every day life. Paper presented at Advanced Health Sciences of Tomorrow, Mälardalens högskola, Västerås, Sweden, 9–10 november 2005.
- Strandberg, T. (2003). Children in residential care: a social study of orphanages in Latvia. Paper presented at International Conference on Social Care in Latvia, in theory and practice, at P. Stradina Medical School, Jurmala, Latvia, May 9-10, 2003.
Doctoral theses, monographs
- Strandberg, T. (2006). Vuxna med förvärvad traumatisk hjärnskada - omställningsprocesser och konsekvenser i vardagslivet: en studie av femton personers upplevelser och erfarenheter av att leva med förvärvad traumatisk hjärnskada. (Doctoral dissertation). Örebro: Örebro universitetsbibliotek.
Manuscripts
- Nyberg, J. , Andersson, J. & Strandberg, T. Experienced processes and outcomes of driving license withdrawal due to visual fieldloss : A Swedish survey study of trust in authorities.
- Matérne, M. , Strandberg, T. & Lundqvist, L. Risk markers for not returning to work among patients with acquired brain injury : a population-based register study.
Reports
- Strandberg, T. (2023). Hållbar utveckling inom socialt arbete och socialtjänsten. Örebro: Örebro University (Working Papers and Reports Social work 29).
- Bunketorp Käll, L. , Lexell, J. , Larsson Lund, M. , Möller, M. , Stenberg, M. & Strandberg, T. (2019). Rehabilitering för vuxna med traumatisk hjärnskada: En systematisk översikt och utvärdering av medicinska, ekonomiska, sociala och etiska aspekter. Stockholm: SBU (SBU Utvärderar 304).