Youth Barometers of Eastern Finland chart the well-being, values and attitudes of young people aged 15-25. The themes studied include education, housing, work, internationalism and the use of services. The surveys have been conducted by the Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences since 2010.
The main themes of the survey studying young people living in Eastern Finland were working life, employment, social security, social exclusion, living environment and internationalism.
First, the respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statements relating to education, career, job opportunities, unemployment, social security and the impact of the ongoing economic crises on consumption and employment. Opinions on the causes of social exclusion were charted.
One theme pertained to the respondents' views on and hopes for their living environment and place of residence. They were asked what type of neighbourhood/living environment they had been born in, were living in at the moment or would like or not like to live in. The type of living environments mentioned were rural area, population centre in a rural area, small or medium-sized town, city, capital area, abroad. They were asked how well certain characteristics described their municipality of residence (for instance, safety, tolerance, racism, narrow-mindedness, good community spirit). Next questions explored the importance of certain aspects of their living environment on their satisfaction with it, whether their municipality of residence provided opportunities for education, employment, leisure time and hobbies, and in which Finnish municipality they would like to live. Intentions to move and reasons for moving were also investigated, as well as methods used by them for influencing decision-making in their municipality of residence.
Attitudes to internationalism were studies with statements relating to consequences of immigration (e.g. increases crime, increases the unemployment of Finns, improves the economy) and with questions regarding the respondents' intentions to travel or live abroad, and possible reasons for moving abroad. Finally, the respondents were asked whether they regarded the proximity of Russia as positive or negative in their own life or to Finland in general, and whether they thought own contacts with Russia were possible or likely for education or work.
Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, duration of residence in the municipality of residence, mother tongue, marital status, children, housing, educational institution, own and the parents' education.
The online survey was carried out in three Eastern Finland regions (Southern Savonia, Northern Savonia and North Karelia) among the following persons: pupils in the 9th grade classes of lower secondary schools, students of upper secondary institutions, universities of applied sciences and science universities, and young people attending workshops. Altogether, there were 2,067 respondents.