What We Don't Speak of

Exploring the Impact of Historical Trauma and Discrimination on the Health and Well-Being of Sweden Finns

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7174261
AutoresMattias Strand (0000-0003-4799-0737, Karolinska Institutet, autor correspondente), Mats Lindqvist (0000-0003-1426-945X, Stockholm Health Care Services), Mona Lindqvist (Stockholm Health Care Services)
Ano2026
Volume50
Fascículo1
Páginas5-5
Data de publicação2026-01-19
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoCulture Medicine and Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0165-005X • E-ISSN: 1573-076X
EditoraSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s11013-026-09969-0
PMID41553584
OpenAlexW7124763659
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas44

Sweden Finns are one of the five officially recognized national minority groups in Sweden. Approximately 3.6 percent of the total Swedish population are either born in Finland or have at least one Finnish-born parent; however, since Swedish national minority legislation explicitly applies a self-identification principle rather than objective criteria in determining who belongs to a national minority group, this figure might not correspond to the number of people who actually view themselves as Sweden Finns. On group level, Sweden Finns have been socioeconomically underprivileged in comparison with the Swedish majority population, and tend to be worse off in terms of somatic and mental health. The aim of this study was to explore the many ways in which official minority status, as well as more subtle and systemic processes of minoritization, affect health and healthcare encounters in the Sweden Finnish population in Stockholm, Sweden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adults self-identifying as Sweden Finns. The interview data were analyzed using a thematic analysis framework. In all phases of the study, consultation was sought with a reference group representing the Sweden Finnish community. Three main themes were identified: (1) In-between identities, (2) The meaning of language, and (3) Lack of understanding in Swedish society. The participants underscore the importance of Finnish traditions, food, and customs for their personal well-being. Even so, the findings also point to the many ways in which transgenerational trauma experiences and marginalization contribute to the health challenges faced by Sweden Finns today. The study sheds light on the complex layers of historical trauma and ongoing discrimination and their impact on health and healthcare encounters, underscoring the need for cultural sensitivity within Swedish healthcare and Swedish society

Affect (linguistics · Health care · Historical trauma · Legislation · Meaning (existential · Mental health · Population · Public health · Thematic analysis · Cultural Competency in Health Care · Migration, Health and Trauma · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research