Sense of coherence and its determinants: a comparative study of the Finnish-speaking majority and the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland.
BACKGROUND
Despite similar living conditions among the Finnish-speaking majority and the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, the latter is a more advantaged group e.g. in terms of socioeconomic status and health. This study investigated (1) the level of sense of coherence (SOC), (2) the structure of generalized resistance resources (GRRs), and (3) associations of GRRs with SOC among Finnish- and Swedish-speaking Finns.


METHODS
The data derived from the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) Study. The sample comprised 22,937 Finnish men and women aged 20-54, including an additional sample from the Swedish-speaking population (n = 2,967). The response rate was 40%. Ordinary regression analysis was used.


RESULTS
Swedish-speaking women scored 0.9 (p = 0.005) and men 0.6 (p = 0.05) points higher on SOC scale compared with Finnish-speaking respondents. The minor difference in the SOC level between the language groups was explained by Finnish speakers' worse psychosocial living conditions in childhood and working conditions in adulthood. Only one interaction was found: parents' divorce during childhood was associated with a significant decrease of SOC scores only for Finnish speakers. Otherwise the same GRRs had similar effects on both Finnish- and Swedish-speaking men's and women's SOC.


CONCLUSIONS
The only key difference between Finnish- and Swedish-speaking Finns concerned the unequal distribution of GRRs. An increase in GRRs among Finnish speakers would probably strengthen their SOC. However, the slightly stronger level of SOC among Swedish-speaking compared with Finnish-speaking Finns is unlikely to explain the possible differences in well-being between the two language groups.
Volanen
Salla-Maarit
SM
Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland. salla-maarit.volanen@helsinki.fi
Suominen
Sakari
S
Lahelma
Eero
E
Koskenvuo
Markku
M
Silventoinen
Karri
K
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000208:ethnology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D012928:Social Desirability; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000208:ethnology