As migrants interact with the native population their behavioral patterns adapt. This in turn shapes the health of migrants through changes in health behaviors established before migration. The health of migrants is thus related to factors both in the country of origin and destination. However, most data sets are collected in a national context, limiting studies to examine factors only at the destination.
The aim of this project is to investigate how social, geographic and demographic processes shape the health of Finnish migrants in Sweden. The high-quality register data available in both countries will be used to compare the first and second generation of Finnish migrants to relevant reference groups in both the country of origin and destination. The project will focus on morbidity and mortality related to alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular diseases and examine several conditions shaping the interaction between migrants and natives, including the proportion of Finns in the municipality, duration of residence and intermarriage.
Migrants are a heterogeneous group and no migrant group is representative of all migrants. Finnish migrants are one of the largest and oldest group of migrants in Sweden and by studying these, the project can identify factors that can guide future research on migrant health. Due to the rare opportunity to examine factors in both the country of origin and destination, the project can provide both researchers and policy makers with valuable insights.
Project information
Project members
- Olof Mpumwire Östergren, Principal Investigator
- Agneta Cederström
- Pekka Martikainen
Project period
2022-2025
Project funder
Swedish Research Council
Publications
- Korhonen, K., Cederström, A., Martikainen, P., & Östergren, O. (2025). Intermarriage and mortality among Finnish migrants in Sweden: a prospective register study using binational data. European Journal of Public Health, 35(2), 386-394.
- Östergren, O., Cederström, A., Korhonen, K., & Martikainen, P. (2023). Migrant mortality by duration of residence and co-ethnic density – A register-based study on Finnish migrants in Sweden with matched controls in the origin and the destination. Health & Place, 83, 103064.
- Östergren, O., Korhonen, K., Cederström, A., & Martikainen, P. (2023). Do migrants always live longer than natives? Finnish migrants in Sweden. Population & Societies, 613(7), 1-4.
- Östergren, O., Rehnberg, J., Lundberg, O., & Miething, A. (2023). Disruption and selection: the income gradient in mortality among natives and migrants in Sweden. European Journal of Public Health, 33(3), 372-377.
- Östergren, O., Korhonen, K., Gustafsson, N. K., & Martikainen, P. (2021). Home and away: mortality among Finnish-born migrants in Sweden compared to native Swedes and Finns residing in Finland. European Journal of Public Health, 31(2), 321-325.