Sense of belonging and its association with health among people of foreign background in Finland

Abstract

Abstract Background Sense of belonging is recognized as an important determinant of health. There is little research on the association between sense of belonging and health of people of foreign background (PFB) in Finland. In this study we examined: 1) to which extent PFB feel they belong to the Finnish society and citizens of their country of origin (CCO) and 2) if sense of belonging is associated with self-perceived health. Methods Data from a cross-sectional survey FinMONIK conducted in Finland 2018 was used. The random sample consisted of PFB (N = 12 877, response rate 53%). Identity was assessed by using the question “Which of the following areas or groups you feel you belong to?” with response options “My local municipality”, “Finns”, “the citizens of my country of birth or origin”. Based on this, we constructed a variable to group respondents belonging 1) only to the Finnish society, 2) only to CCO and 3) to both Finnish society and CCO (bicultural identity). Self-perceived health was measured by using a 5-point-scale and merging good and fairly good as a good perceived health factor. Logistic regression was used to test the association between perceived health and sense of belonging, adjusted for age, sex and country of origin. Results Majority of the respondents (39%) reported a bicultural identity, whereas 21% felt they belonged only to the Finnish society and 23% only to CCO. Self-perceived health was significantly associated with sense of belonging (p < 0.001). Good perceived health was more common among those with bicultural identity (73%) than among those who felt belonging only to the Finnish society (66%) and CCO (63%). Conclusions Bicultural identity was most common and also associated with better perceived health. Key messages Sense of belonging to both host country citizens and CCO is likely to benefit individual’s health. Identifying with host country citizens and maintaining sense of self as a member of CCO should be supported.