Authors

• Advisory Council for Youth Affairs (Nuora)
• Finnish Youth Research Society. Finnish Youth Research Network

Keywords

adolescents, adults, arts, creativity, criminal damage, culture, doping, hobbies, internet, labour and employment, leisure time, social exclusion

Abstract

The main themes of the Finnish Youth Survey 2009 were art and culture, but there were also questions on the employment and social exclusion of young people.

First, the respondents were presented with a set of attitudinal statements on work. The respondents' opinions on unemployment, unemployment benefits, temporary job, and managing in work were charted. They also shared their views on how various factors, such as the lack of education, bad company, intoxicants, or social injustice affect the social exclusion of young people. In addition, they were presented with statements on people's honesty, benefit-seeking, and trust, and expressed their opinions on which factors (e.g. the age of majority, own children, finishing studies, and finding one's own identity) make a person an adult. They also estimated how similar values their generation and their parents' generation had on issues such as art, religion, education, and work.

Further questions charted cultural hobbies. The respondents were asked whether they participated in or did any of the mentioned activities (e.g. playing an instrument, singing, drawing, photographing, acting, dancing), how often they practiced/did their hobby, and whether they practiced/did it mostly by themselves or under guidance, and in a group or alone. They were also asked to indicate whether they would like to start any of the mentioned hobbies. The respondents who told they did graffito or tags were asked whether they did them in permitted or prohibited places or in both. The respondents who participated in or did one or more cultural activities were asked about the importance of various reasons (e.g. creating new, making new friends, passing time, family's pressure) for busying oneself with art and culture. Possible obstacles (e.g. lack of time, expensiveness of the hobby) to having a cultural hobby were also charted. The respondents were asked whether they felt they received enough encouragement to participate in creative activities for example from their parents, friends or teachers. They also expressed their opinions on various statements describing the significance of art.

Next, the respondents were presented with a set of attitudinal statements on the adequacy and price level of activities organised for young people and cultural services. They also indicated the importance of opera, museums, theatre, and municipal youth services in their lives and leisure. Their views were charted on whether Finns should be proud of various things, such as achievements in sports, Finnish social security, design, and architecture. In view of Internet use, the respondents were asked how much they used the Internet and for what (e.g. publishing photos and music, creating web pages, downloading music).

Attitudes towards the use of supplements and doping substances were investigated. The respondents were queried whether they had tried to improve their physique by using supplements, whether they had tried doping substances, and whether they had used them in the past month. The respondents who had tried or used doping substances were asked which substances they had tried or used. Reasons for trying doping and opinions on the risks of using doping substances were also canvassed.

In addition, the respondents told whether they had any tattoos or piercings, and their attitudes towards taking a tattoo and its significance were charted. Finally, they were asked whether they were able to express their creativity in various places, such as at school and work, and what they thought would be the best way of supporting the creativity of young people.

Background variables included, among others, the respondent's age, gender, mother tongue, household composition, level of education, and economic activity.