PUBLIC DEFENCE: We are delighted to announce that our PhD Candidate, Mathea Loen, has successfully defended her dissertation, “Protecting Children, Preserving Trust,” and has therefore acquired a PhD from the University of Bergen. The defence took place on 20 June 2025.
[Featured photo by Jenny Guo Strømsnes, UiB]
Her dissertation thesis examines an overarching research question: What is the level and characteristics of public support for child protection systems? Culminated in four articles, the thesis investigates further this question by studying 1) citizens’ preferences and evaluations of procedural and normative standards for decision-making and policy implementation, 2) citizens’ evaluation of acceptable child protection measures, 3) citizens’ level of trust and confidence in the child protection system, its caseworkers and decision-makers, and 4) citizens’ willingness to comply with the child protection authorities.
The thesis presents empirical evidence on how trust in the child protection system plays a crucial role in determining whether individuals accept state intervention in the family sphere and comply with child protection authorities. The thesis also acknowledges the complexity of trust in child protection systems, which arises from the institution being a service provider yet having coercive power to intervene in family life, and at the same time being obliged to balance the multiple interests of parents and children.
The Committee leader for the defence was Professor Ragnhild Muriaas from the Department of Government at the University of Bergen. The first defence opponent was Bo Rothstein, Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg, and the second defence opponent was Professor Jonathan Jackson from the London School of Economics. Professor Lise Rykkja, the Chair of the Department of Government at the University of Bergen, led the defence. Professor Marit Skivenes and Professor Siri Gloppen from the University of Bergen supervised the thesis throughout Mathea’s PhD years.
As a part of the defence, Mathea gave a trial lecture on “How Can States Create General Legitimacy for Child Protection in a Culturally Divided Society?” before presenting her thesis work and facing the opponents. She received high praise from her opponents for her impressive defence and the insightful findings presented in her dissertation. They enthusiastically offered several compelling ideas for further research on the subject, recognising the significance of her work in the field.
We at DIPA would like to congratulate Mathea on her achievement!
From Left to Right: Prof. Jonathan Jackson, Prof. Bo Rothstein, Prof. Marit Skivenes, Mathea Loen (PhD), Prof. Siri Gloppen, Prof. Ragnhild Muriaas, and Prof. Lise Rykkja. Photo by Jenny Guo Strømsnes, UiB.
The dissertation is available in digital print here.
Article I:
Loen, M., & Skivenes, M. (2023). Legitimate child protection interventions and the dimension of confidence: A comparative analysis of populations views in six European countries. Journal of Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1017/S004727942300003X
Article II:
Loen, M., & Skivenes, M. (2025). The value of responsibility, certainty, and child rights for supporting state intervention in the family – An empirical study of populations in six European countries. Journal of European Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1177/09589287241311148
Article III:
Loen, M. (accepted). Norm Adherence, Trust, and Citizens’ Compliance: Exploring Citizens’ Attitudes to Welfare Institutions across Europe. Government.
Article IV:
Loen, M. (under review). Responsibility Counts, Need Decides: Cross-National Perspectives on Social Risks and Public Support for Welfare Services.