Study reveals disparities in well-being among Helsinki youth

A recent study shows significant differences in well-being among Helsinki’s young people based on gender and perceived family financial status. Boys generally reported better well-being and health than girls, while youth from families with a positive

By: helsinkitimes.fi

Jan 09 2025
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Study reveals disparities in w

A recent study shows significant differences in well-being among Helsinki’s young people based on gender and perceived family financial status. Boys generally reported better well-being and health than girls, while youth from families with a positive economic outlook were more likely to feel well and healthy. Boys who perceived their family’s financial situation as excellent stood out as the most well-off group.

The findings reveal boys are more satisfied with life, experience better mental health, and enjoy stronger social relationships compared to girls. However, boys were less likely to feel safe in certain contexts and displayed riskier behaviours related to substance use. Family financial status was also closely linked to well-being, with excellent financial standing correlating positively with life satisfaction, mental health, and perceived safety in their environment.

The study, based on data from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s School Health Survey, highlights the impact of family structure on youth well-being. Adolescents living with both parents generally scored higher across various well-being measures than those in shared custody or single-parent households. These young people were more likely to have regular daily routines and less likely to encounter unsafe environments.

The study also examined the role of ethnicity. Gender intersected with ethnic background in shaping well-being. Finnish-born girls reported higher levels of anxiety, depression symptoms, and harassment in public spaces than their foreign-born peers. For boys, differences by ethnicity were most evident in perceptions of safety, with foreign-born boys more likely to experience discrimination, parental violence, harassment, or bullying than Finnish-born boys.

A key finding of the study is the combined influence of gender and perceived family financial status on youth well-being. Boys who reported their family’s financial situation as excellent displayed the highest levels of well-being. In contrast, girls from families with modest or poor financial situations faced disproportionate challenges. Almost half of these girls reported moderate to high anxiety levels, compared to 30% or less in other groups.

“Girls from families with modest financial circumstances appear to face multiple challenges to their well-being in Helsinki. Understanding the interplay between gender and family socioeconomic status is critical for addressing disparities among population groups,” said Suvi Määttä, a senior researcher with the City of Helsinki.