Identities, Values and Attitudes among Russian-, Estonian-, Somali-, and Arabic-speaking People in the Helsinki Capital Region 2018-2019

The survey studied the values and identities of the five main linguistic minorities, Russian-, Estonian-, Somali-, English- and Arabic-speaking people, in the Helsinki capital region. The main theme of the survey was the self-image of the respondents as an individual and as part of different groups. The study was funded by E2 Research, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Ministry of Justice, and the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. First, the respondents were asked how many years they had lived in Finland and where they or their family were originally from. National identity was surveyed with questions on how the respondents viewed their nationality and whether they felt they were a part of Finnish society. Questions also focused on the significance of various regional and social factors, such as the respondent's current area of residence, being a European citizen, level of education, and cultural traditions, as contributors to the respondent's identity. The respondents were also asked to describe their family's social class during their childhood (e.g. whether their family was a working or middle class family). Next, the respondents' views on several statements were surveyed. The statements included, for example, whether the respondent thought that being Finnish was connected to one's ethnic background, that the media portrayed representatives of their minority group too negatively, and that Finland needs strong leadership so that social problems can be fixed without compromises. The importance of several things for the respondents, such as power, wealth, equality, and forgiveness, was charted. The respondents were also asked to consider what was extremely important for them in their life (e.g. health, love, children, traditions, safety and security). Finally, the respondents' trust in various authorities and organisations in Finland, such as the President, the justice system, banks, and large corporations, was examined. The respondents' trust in individuals was also charted. Background variables included, among others, the respondent's age group, gender, economic activity and occupational status, number of completed school years, country where R completed their highest level of education, household composition, mother tongue, which language R spoke at home, and the main reason why R moved to Finland.