Better perceived health among the Swedish-speaking minority as compared with the Finnish-speaking majority in Finland : a cross-sectional study with an intergenerational perspective

Abstract

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous research has shown that the Swedish speaking minority in Finland has slightly but significantly better health compared with the Finnish speaking majority. However, a clear explanation for this is lacking.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of the study was to explore differences of perceived health comparing three groups: Swedish speakers with reported dominance of Swedish also in the preceding generation; contemporary Finnish speakers with reported dominance of Finnish in the preceding generation and a group with a reported mixed-language structure of Finnish and Swedish between generations.</p><p><strong>Individuals and methods: </strong>Health and Social Support is an on-going population-based survey initiated in 1998 (<em>N</em> = 64,797), aimed at working-age adults. The present study is based on the 2012 follow-up survey, which included a question on the dominating language (Swedish or Finnish) of the respondents and their parents. The outcome was perceived health, which in this study was dichotomized to very good/good and intermediate/poor/very poor. The statistical analysis was carried with logistic regression, using SAS software. Age, gender and occupational training were included as covariates in the multivariable analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study found that the Swedish-speaking group in Finland report better perceived health compared with the Finnish-speaking group (odds ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.57, <em>p</em> < 0.001). The health of the mixed language-speaking group fell between the other two groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results gave some support to a culturally mediated mechanism for the health advantage of Swedish speakers. Cultural features of Swedish-speaking groups in Finland may also support health promotion of the Finnish-speaking majority.</p>