Authors

• Statistics Finland
• Prime Minister's Office

Keywords

COVID-19, bacterial and virus diseases, communications, dissemination of information, emotional states, enegry consumption, energy prices, health, income, international conflict, regulations, trust, war, well-being (health)

Abstract

The Citizens' Pulse surveys examine Finnish attitudes and opinions in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Main themes in the surveys include the activity and communication of authorities, compliance with regulations, future expectations, trust, and the respondents' own state of mind. This collection round also included questions on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and energy conservation.

The fourth collection round of 2023 surveyed the respondents' trust in other people and various institutions (e.g. the Finnish Government, the health care system, the media, and the Finnish Defence Forces). The respondents' trust in other people and their satisfaction with the functioning of democracy in Finland were also charted. The respondents' state of mind was examined with questions on various matters relating to health, well-being, and their situation in life. The questions covered, for example, the respondents' own mental well-being, whether they were worried about the adequacy of their income, their confidence in their future, and experiences of stress. Additionally, the respondents were asked to evaluate whether an atmosphere of crisis prevailed amongst Finns and whether Finland's Nato membership had affected their sense of safety.

The next set of questions focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The respondents were asked how concerned they were about the crisis in Ukraine and its effects and whether they were concerned that the war might expand beyond Ukraine. Opinions on the economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU and whether Finland should be ready to receive significant numbers of refugees from Ukraine if necessary were charted. Additionally, the respondents were asked whether the uncertainty caused by the crisis in Ukraine had impacted the respondents' consumer behaviour and whether the recent rise in interest rates had created financial difficulties for the respondents' households.

On the topic of energy conservation, the respondents were asked how concerned they were about the changes in energy prices, whether they felt they had enough information about ways to conserve energy in their everyday lives, and whether they believed that by taking energy-saving measures they could make a difference in the availability of energy during the coming months. The measures the respondents had taken to lower their energy consumption during the past month (e.g. lowered the room temperature at home, driven less, reduced the use of electronic appliances at home, taken shorter showers) were also surveyed.

Concern over the coronavirus pandemic and its effects were charted. Compliance with coronavirus restrictions was examined by asking the respondents whether in the past week they had followed the restrictions and recommendations set by authorities for preventing transmission of the virus, including maintaining safe distances, wearing a face mask, and minimising contact with other people. The respondents were also asked how necessary they felt it was to follow measures such as wearing a mask and maintaining safe distances after receiving two or three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and whether they would be willing to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the autumn of 2023 if recommended by health authorities.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, NUTS3 region of residence, highest level of education, household composition, perceived financial situation of household, type of accommodation, and type of domestic heating system.