About the Journal

Journal of Social Medicine is a Finnish open-access scientific publication that uses peer-review and addresses topics related to health, illness, and well-being. The articles should have a societal perspective, meaning that the topic in question should be examined from a social point of view and the articles should have social significance. The articles published in the journal may represent different disciplines, such as public health, health sociology, social policy, health economics and health care research.

The journal publishes empirical (qualitative, quantitative and mixed), theoretical, and methodological original articles, scientific reviews, commentaries, case and research reports, lectio praecursoria, farewell lectures, book reviews, conference reports, and other writings in Finnish and Swedish. 

All articles must be submitted via the electronic system: www.journal.fi/sla. Please read the authors guidelines carefully before submitting your article. 

Sections of the journal

  • Editorial: A non-peer-reviewed scientific article of approximately 600 to 1000 words. 
  • Article: A peer-reviewed scientific article consisting mainly of previously unpublished material. The article section may also publish peer-reviewed review articles based on previously published material and topics that meet the principles of scientific writing. The review must be repeatable. The length is approximately 4,500 words, including the actual text. Abstracts, tables, figures, and references are not counted in the word count.
  • Puheenvuoro: Puheenvuoro are published as a discussion starters or statements on current topics of interest in the fields of science or social medicine. These may be requested by the editorial board or proposed by the author. A non-peer-reviewed reviews may also be published as puheenvuoro. A scientific, non-peer-reviewed writing with a maximum length of approximately 2,000 words. 
  • Current research: A non-peer-reviewed article presenting, for example, descriptive results of a phenomenon under study or descriptions of the data. Word count 2,000 to 4,000 words. 
  • Lectio Praecursoria: A general and accessible presentation of the topic of a doctoral dissertation, maximum length approximately 3,000 words. Please check the separate instructions for lectios in the author guidelines. 
  • Book review: A scientific, non-peer-reviewed paper, maximum length approx. 
  • Conference reports: Non-peer-reviewed scientific articles with a maximum length of approximately 2,000 words.
  • Research skills: Publishes articles dealing with methodological issues in research. These may be review-type or reflective articles. A peer-reviewed or non-peer-reviewed scientific article with a maximum length of approximately 2,000 words.
  • Series of writings: If you have an idea for a series of writing on a topical theme, we would be happy to hear your ideas.
  • Comment: A comment on a topical issue or an article or opinion piece published in the magazine. The maximum length of the article is 2,000 words. 

If you are unsure about the suitability of your article for the journal or are considering, which section would be most appropriate for you article, please contact the editorial board. 

Subscribing the journal

The Journal of Social Medicine has been published since 1962. The journal is published by the Society for Social Medicine in Finland.

Starting in 2026, the Journal of Social Medicine will be published openly in journal.fi/sla. The journal has Forthcoming section, where articles are published immediately after acceptance and technical preparation. Approved articles will be compiled into traditional print editions four times a year (February, May, September, and December).

Please note that starting in 2025, the journal will be published only in electronic format.

The Seppo Aro Award

Every two years, the Journal of Social Medicine awards the Seppo Aro Award for a noteworthy article published in the journal. Read more about the award and its recipients here. 

Theme Issues

The Journal of Social Medicine publishes one theme issue per year, as well as mini-theme issues based on articles in circulation, as needed. Below is a list of theme issues:

2025: Hyvinvointipalveluiden tutkimus (Research on welfare services) (toim. Tomi Mäki-Opas, Timo Toikko ja Minna Kivipelto)
2024: Menetelmät (Methods) (toim. Anna-Mari Isola, Maijaliisa Erkkola, Jaakko Nevalainen ja Reijo Sund)
2023: Terveystaloustiede (Health economics) (toim. Leena Forma, Virva Hyttinen, Lauri Sääksvuori ja Ismo Linnosmaa)
2022: Miniteemanumero Työterveys (Mini-theme issue Occupational health) 
2022: Eriarvoisuus lautasella (Inequality on the plate) (toim. Maijaliisa Erkkola, Tea Lallukka, Reetta Lehto ja Katri Sääksjärvi)
2021: Kriisi: Koronaepidemian yhteiskunnalliset vaikutukset (Crisis: The social impact of the coronavirus pandemic) (toim. Riikka Lämsä, Liisa Häikiö ja Markku Peltonen)
2020: Rokotus ennen ja nyt (toim. Johanna Nurmi ja Pia Vuolanto
2019: Ilmastokriisi - kohti kestävää kansanterveyttä (toim. Maijaliisa Erkkola, Mikael Fogelholm ja Tiina Silvasto)
2019: Mielenterveys
2017: Näkökulmia ulkomaalaistaustaisiin Suomessa (toim. Anne Alitolppa-Niitamo, Riikka Lämsä, Seppo Koskinen ja Päivikki Koponen)
2014: Sosiaalilääketieteen tutkimusmenetelmät: ajankohtaisia kysymyksiä, innovaatioita, uusia mahdollisuuksia (toim. Maijaliisa Erkkola, Jaakko Nevalainen, Ilkka Pietilä ja Reijo Sund)
2012: Väestöryhmittäiset erot ravitsemuksessa ja ruokakäyttäytymisessä (toim. Maijaliisa Erkkola, Eva Roos ja Suvi Virtanen)
2008: Miniteemanumero Menetelmällisiä näkökulmia vaikuttavuustutkimukseen (toim. Reijo Sund)
2006: Terveyspolitiikka (toim. Ulla Ashorn, Juhani Lehto, Pia Solin ja Leena Tervonen-Gonçalves)
2004: Lasten ja nuorten hyvinvointi ja mielenterveys 
2004: Potilaan osallistuminen (toim. Kirsi Lumme-Sandt ja Johanna Ruusuvuori)