School Health Promotion study: Children and young people with a foreign background fare worse than their peers in many respects, but like studying

Children and young people with a foreign background fare worse than children and young people with two Finnish-born parents across several domains of health, well-being and safety. The differences are particularly evident in boys’ health and well-being. The findings are based on the School Health Promotion study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

In the 2025 survey, 51 percent of students in grades 8–9 who were born abroad and have a foreign background reported having experienced discrimination or bullying at school or during their free time in the past year. Among young people whose both parents are of Finnish background, the corresponding proportion was 31 percent.

Experiences of discrimination and bullying among boys in grades 8–9 have increased markedly between 2021 and 2025, regardless of origin. Experiences of discrimination increased by as much as 10–15 percentage points across all origin groups.

“The prevalence of discrimination experiences and their increase are worrying. Addressing the situation requires active measures that deliberately strengthen people’s capacity for empathy and non-discrimination in young people’s different environments – at home, at school and during leisure time,” says research professor Anu Castaneda.

The School Health Promotion study was completed by pupils in grades 4–5 and 8–9 in basic education, as well as first- and second-year students in upper secondary education. In THL’s new research report, the results are examined across four origin groups: children and young people with a foreign background born abroad; those born in Finland with a foreign background; those with one Finnish-born and one foreign-born parent; and those whose parents are both of Finnish background.

Differences in friendships, lifestyles and health behaviour

The School Health Promotion study also explored children’s and young people’s friendships, revealing differences by origin in this area as well.

A higher proportion of girls and boys with a foreign background reported that they do not have any close friends. For example, in vocational institutions, 13 percent of students born abroad with a foreign background reported having no close friends. Among students whose both parents are of Finnish background, the corresponding proportion was six percent.

Differences between origin groups were also observed in some lifestyle factors and health behaviour. Children and young people with a foreign background were less likely to eat breakfast on school days. In addition, they more often perceived their internet use as excessive.

“Children, young people and families need information and support in these matters in order for health equity to be realised in our population,” Castaneda notes.

Girls fare worse than boys overall, regardless of origin

Among girls, differences between origin groups were smaller than among boys, but their overall situation was weaker.

“Girls report symptoms such as anxiety, school burnout, dissatisfaction with life and loneliness clearly more often than boys,” Castaneda explains.

Among boys, differences between origin groups manifested in different ways. For example, among first- and second-year students in general upper secondary education, 18 percent of boys born abroad with a foreign background reported at least moderate anxiety. The corresponding proportion among boys whose both parents are of Finnish background was seven percent.

“Understanding the underlying causes of these health and well-being disparities is essential in order to address them effectively. Strengthening participation and a sense of belonging, dismantling harmful gender norms, developing low-threshold services and promoting the overall well-being of families play a key role in this work,” Castaneda says.

More positive attitudes towards school and education among children and young people with a foreign background

According to the results of the School Health Promotion study, children and young people with a foreign background also demonstrate a number of important strengths. These include, for example, less frequent alcohol use and a more positive attitude towards school and studying.

“Eighty percent of children with a foreign background born abroad in grades 4–5 reported that they like studying. Among children whose both parents are of Finnish background, the corresponding proportion was 69 percent,” Castaneda notes.

The report recently published by THL also examines trends in different aspects of health, well-being and safety between 2019 and 2025. According to the findings, many phenomena are common to all children and young people and are not tied to origin.

“It is important to remember that origin is only one dimension of a person’s background and is not always a particularly defining factor in an individual’s life,” Castaneda says.

The School Health Promotion study is conducted nationwide every two years and produces comprehensive monitoring data on the health and well-being of children and young people. The compilation of the report was funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

Source:

Anu Castaneda, Anni Matikka, Sanna Nykänen, Mona Eid, Hannamaria Kuusio. Differences in health and well-being related to the origin of children and young people and their development in time – Results of the School Health Promotion study by origin in 2019–2025 (in Finnish, abstract in English). Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Report 2/2026.   

More information:

Anu Castaneda
research professor 
THL
tel. 029 524 7848
[email protected]

School Health Promotion study results (in Finnish and Swedish)