Background: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.Aim: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.Individuals and methods:Health and Social Support is an on-going population-based survey initiated in 1998 ( N = 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.Results: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, p < 0.001). The health of the mixed language-speaking group fell between the other two groups.Conclusions: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.

中文翻译：

---

与芬兰讲芬兰语的多数人相比，讲瑞典语的少数群体对健康的感知更好：一项跨代视角的横断面研究


背景：之前的研究表明，芬兰讲瑞典语的少数群体比讲芬兰语的多数群体的健康状况略有改善，但明显更好。然而，对此缺乏明确的解释。 目的：该研究的目的是探讨比较三个群体的健康感知差异：瑞典语使用者，据报告在上一代中瑞典语也占主导地位；据报告，当代讲芬兰语的人在上一代人中以芬兰语为主，以及据报道各代人之间使用芬兰语和瑞典语混合语言结构的群体。 个体和方法：健康和社会支持是一项于 1998 年启动的持续人口调查（ N = 64,797），针对工作年龄的成年人。本研究基于 2012 年的后续调查，其中包括一个关于受访者及其父母的主要语言（瑞典语或芬兰语）的问题。结果是感知健康，在本研究中被分为非常好/好和中等/差/非常差。使用SAS软件进行逻辑回归统计分析。年龄、性别和职业培训被纳入多变量分析中作为协变量。 结果：这项研究发现，与芬兰语群体相比，芬兰瑞典语群体的健康感知更好（比值比 1.28，95% 置信区间 1.04– 1.57，p < 0.001）。混合语言群体的健康状况介于其他两组之间。 结论：结果为瑞典语使用者的健康优势的文化中介机制提供了一定的支持。芬兰瑞典语群体的文化特征也可能支持芬兰语大多数人的健康促进。