Concepts of healthy life and stress among recent immigrants -a focus group study

Abstract

In this thesis topics under investigation were immigrants’ views of healthy life, stress and their strategies of coping with stress. The number of immigrants is growing in Finland, and it is known in many countries that immigrants’ health care needs are different to those of the majority of the population. Immigration is a great risk factor for having stress, which in turn is a risk factor in many problems in both physical and mental health. Interest in the well-being of our immigrants and their acculturation is rising. An increasing number of studies are being conducted in Finland. Yet, not a lot of qualitative data is available regarding the life situation of recent immigrants and what is topical in their lives.

A qualitative research approach was chosen. In this thesis a focus group method was used for collecting data. Focus group studies have become increasingly popular in health and social studies. The method draws its strength from communication between people who have similar life experiences. It is often used to study minorities and vulnerable people groups. Winnova educational institute collaborated in this study, especially in the accumulation of volunteer participants.

Results of the study were along the lines of previous studies of immigrants. Many stressing factors in immigrants’ lives concentrated around the issue of language and communication problems. Learning Finnish was seen challenging, and the society not well prepared to encountering people with limited language skills. Identity crisis that may follow immigration was among noticeable stress risk factors. Some surprising findings were the perceived attitudes of Finns, that can be prejudiced and the extent that language difficulties can be a hindrance to participation.