Is there something peculiar about Finnish views on alcohol addiction? – A cross-cultural comparison between four northern populations

Abstract

Empirical studies have continued to display that Finns get heavily intoxicated more often than other Nordic people. This study asks whether Finnish views on alcohol problems and alcohol addiction differ from those of some other northern populations. This issue is studied by comparing survey results from Finland, Canada, Sweden and St. Petersburg, Russia. The data comprised 3 703 adults and it was analysed with standard descriptive methods and logistic regression analysis. Finnish general population respondents seemed to be at least as concerned about the risk of alcohol dependence as people in the other comparison countries. They also placed higher priority on alcohol problems among other societal problems than the respondents from the comparison countries. In issues of responsibility they were similar to Swedish respondents thus reflecting the common attitudes in Nordic welfare states. Their higher belief in the chances of recovery without treatment seems to reflect the traditional image of Finns as tough and self-sufficient people who can manage their problems on their own without external interference. The logistic regression analysis shows that the country effect still remains although the other sociodemographic variables were taken into account. In addition to this also some other background factors, particularly gender, age and education had some effect on the views. The combination of self-change optimism on the one hand and the general worry about alcohol problems on the other hand suggest that the cultural ambivalence towards alcohol consumption has not been fully resolved. This ambivalence could also be seen to contribute to the tradition of heavy binge drinking in Finland.