Malin Bergström


Malin Bergström is a child psychologist and scientist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. She is a specialist in studies concerning the effect on children with different child custody arrangements after divorce or separation. Using cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs, her research group has shown that children have better physical, mental and social outcomes if they live in a shared parenting arrangement compared to primarily living with only one parent.

Scientific activities

For her PhD thesis, Bergström conducted a group randomized trial concerning psychoprophylaxis during child birth, evaluating the use by both the mothers and the fathers.
In 2011, Bergström started to work on the Elvis project at the Center for Health Equity Studies, a joint venture of Stockholm University and the Karolinska Institute. This project is a longitudinal research study that follows the health and well being of children after their parents have divorced or separated. With Sweden as one of the early adopters of shared parenting, the project is unique in its ability to evaluate and compare long-term effects of different custody arrangements. In her various publications, Bergström has shown that children have better physical, mental and social outcomes if they live in a shared parenting arrangement, with approximately equal time with their mother and father compare with a primary parenting arrangement. This holds true for children of different ages, and whether or not their divorced parents have an amicable or high-conflict relationship.
Bergström serves as a board member of the International Council on Shared Parenting.

Media

Bergström's research has received international media attention by for example Time Magazine, Yahoo Parenting, Radio Canada, the Daily Mail, the Journalist’s Resource, and Science Daily.

Selected publications

Peer-reviewed scientific articles