Study title

Health and Political Engagement 2016

Dataset ID Number

FSD3464

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3464

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Mattila, Mikko (University of Helsinki. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Lahtinen, Hannu (University of Helsinki. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Rapeli, Lauri (Åbo Akademi University)
• Sund, Reijo (University of Helsinki. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Wass, Hanna (University of Helsinki. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Abstract

The study charted health and its effect on political engagement among the Finnish population. Main themes in the study were voting behaviour in 2015 parliamentary elections, political participation, health status, political trust and views on health services. The study received funding from the Academy of Finland.

The respondents were first asked how interested they were in politics, whether they had voted in the previous parliamentary elections and for which party, and whether they thought voting was a civic duty. Political participation was surveyed with questions about different forms of participation engaged in, such as contacting a politician, participating in an association or organisation, boycotting, and expressing views on social media.

Health status was charted by asking the respondents how they perceived their health, whether they had a long-term health problem that hampered their daily activities, how long they had suffered from the health problem, whether it had affected their civic engagement and whether they had been discriminated against because of the problem. Further questions about health status surveyed the ability to care for oneself, pain and symptoms, anxiety and depression, long-term health issue of a loved one, height and weight, and illnesses diagnosed by a doctor in the previous 12 months (e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, depression, asthma).

Political attitudes were charted with questions about how complicated the respondents regarded politics, how much say they thought they had in decision-making, their satisfaction with how democracy worked in Finland, and trust in political actors (e.g. the Parliament, political parties, the Government, public servants). Trust in other people was also charted as well as knowledge about political issues and self-placement on the left-right scale.

Opinions on health services were surveyed by asking the respondents, for instance, about the quality of Finnish health services, whether wealthy people should pay more for their health services, whether public health services should be improved even if it meant raising taxes, and whether fees should be increased for treating diseases associated with certain habits and lifestyle choices (smoking, overuse of alcohol, lack of exercise).

Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, gender, mother tongue, education and occupation as well as the length of potential unemployment, the size of the household and its monthly gross income.

Keywords

health; health services; health status; political attitudes; political awareness; political participation; politics; trust; voting; well-being (health)

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• General health and well-being (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Feelback Oy

Time Period Covered

2016

Collection Dates

2016-01-15 – 2016-02-18

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged 18 and over living in mainland Finland

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Stratified

The sample was divided into strata according to mother tongue, age group and gender.

Collection Mode

Telephone interview: Computer-assisted (CATI)

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

An open-ended variable surveying the respondents' income was recoded into a numeric variable at FSD and the responses given as ranges were coded into the mean of the range (e.g. 2000-3000 euros = 2500 euros). There were five such responses.

Responses containing identifiers in variables Q54_1 and Q55_1 surveying occupation were removed at FSD for privacy reasons. The responses that were altered are marked with square brackets. An open-ended variable surveying mother tongue was also removed because it only contained one response.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Mattila, Mikko (University of Helsinki) & Lahtinen, Hannu (University of Helsinki) & Rapeli, Lauri (Åbo Akademi University) & Sund, Reijo (University of Helsinki) & Wass, Hanna (University of Helsinki): Health and Political Engagement 2016 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2021-01-25). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3464

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Mikko Mattila & Lauri Rapeli & Hanna Wass & Peter Söderlund (2017): Health and Political Engagement. Routledge: Abingdon.

Mattila, Mikko (2020) Does Poor Health Mobilize People into Action? Health, Political Trust and Participation. European Political Science Review 12(1): 49-65.

Patronen, Aleksi (2022). Terveyskokemusten yhteys poliittiseen kiinnittymiseen. Matematiikan kandidaatintutkielma. Luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta, Oulun yliopisto. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202206072629