Study title

Ageing and Social Wellbeing 2020-2021

Dataset ID Number

FSD3942

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3942
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3942

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Jolanki, Outi (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Jylhä, Marja (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Abstract

The survey examined how Finnish individuals aged 65-84 perceive aging and well-being. The themes of the survey include health and functional ability, social networks and activity, the status of older people in society, personal future, housing and living environment, use of technology, and the COVID-19 epidemic.

At the beginning of the survey, the respondents were asked how they perceive their health and functional ability, whether they have any doctor-diagnosed illnesses, whether they receive sufficient help in their daily lives, and what might be the reasons for not receiving such help. Next, the survey explored the respondents' social relationships and levels of activity. Participants were asked, for example, whether they regularly assist someone with reduced functional ability or illness, what kinds of leisure activities are part of their lives, and whether they feel lonely. Following this, the respondents were asked for their opinions on the status of older people and broader societal issues, such as whether pensioners are sufficiently valued in Finland and whether voting in elections is worthwhile.

The respondents were then asked about their views regarding their future and aging. They were asked, for example, where they would like to live as they grow older, and whether issues such as their own health, climate change, or a close relative's illness cause them concern. After this, the respondents were asked about their current housing arrangements and their opinions on the services available in their residential area and the accessibility of those services. The following topic in the survey was technology, which examined how often and what types of technology and applications the respondents use. Finally, the survey gathered experiences and opinions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background variables in the dataset include age, gender, marital status, education, labour market status, pension status, financial situation, net income, occupation, and socioeconomic status.

Keywords

COVID-19; ageing; elderly; health; housing; old age; psychological well-being; quality of life; social networks; well-being (health)

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Elderly (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Social behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (D) available only by permission from the data depositor/creator.

Data Collector

• Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Health Sciences, the Gerontology Research Center, SoWell research group

Funders

• Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation

Time Period Covered

2020 – 2021

Collection Dates

2020-11-30 – 2021-04-09

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Finnish citizens aged 65 to 84 whose mother tongue is Finnish

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Simple random

The sample was drawn on November 6, 2020 (based on the register status as of November 5, 2020) from the population register maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The survey was sent to 5,000 individuals, of whom 3,088 responded by the deadline. The survey was initially delivered electronically to all recipients. If a respondent did not reply within three weeks or requested a paper questionnaire, a paper version was mailed to them. A total of 886 individuals responded to the survey electronically, while 2,202 responded using the paper questionnaire. The survey was conducted in three rounds: the initial contact and two reminder rounds.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

61.7

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

The researcher has recoded the dataset variables ammLuokkaA, ammLuokkaC, k5_ammattiluokitus, and k5_ammattirakenne from the original data's open variable k5. The variable ammLuokkaA was constructed based on Statistics Finland's Classification of Socio-economic Groups 1989, Level A. The variable ammLuokkaC was constructed based on Statistics Finland's Classification of Socio-economic Groups 1989, Level C. The variable k5_ammattiluokitus was constructed based on Statistics Finland's Classification of Occupations 2010, 2-digit level. The variable k5_ammattirakenne was constructed based on Statistics Finland's Classification of Occupations 2010, the main group level. The question text for variable k5 was as follows: "What is the occupation in which you spent most of your working life? (job title, e.g., teacher, cleaner, housewife, etc.)"

The value 14 of variable K6 includes those respondents who selected both values 1 and 4 on the questionnaire. The values 12, 13, 23, and 123 of variable K44 have been formed using the same logic. For example, the value 123 of variable K44 includes those respondents who selected values 1, 2, and 3 on the questionnaire.

For reasons of identifiability, the Finnish Social Science Data Archive has deleted variables containing open-ended responses related to questions 5, 12, 18, 20, 21, 25, 43, 45, 61, and 62 of the questionnaire. For the same reason, the open-ended responses in variables k15_AVO, k17_AVO, k23_AVO, k32_AVO, k52_1_AVO, k52_2_AVO, k55_AVO, and k56_AVO have been edited to anonymize all direct and indirect identifying information, and some responses have been deleted entirely. Anonymization performed by the FSD is marked with [square brackets].

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

Jolanki, Outi (Tampere University) & Jylhä, Marja (Tampere University): Ageing and Social Wellbeing 2020-2021 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2025-07-07). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3942; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3942

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

Jylhä M, Valkama O, Raitanen J, Tiainen K. Luottavatko ikäihmiset yhteiskuntaan ja palveluihin? Yhteiskuntapolitiikka 90:1, 45-57. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2025021211742.

Valkama O, Raitanen J, Tiainen K. Ikäkäsitysten yhteys internetin käyttöön 65-84-vuotiailla suomalaisilla. Gerontologia, 38: 155-168. 2024. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.130716.

Ahosola P, Tuominen K, Tiainen K, Jylhä M, Jolanki O. Mikä muuttui vai muuttuiko mikään? Korona-ajan arki yli 65-vuotiaiden haastatteluissa. Gerontologia, 35: 342-355, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.103376.

Tiainen K, Nousiainen K, Tuominen K, Ahosola P, Jylhä M, Jolanki O. Uutta tutkimustietoa iäkkäiden sosiaalisesta hyvinvoinnista - SoWell-tutkimushankkeen laaja kyselyaineisto on valmistunut. Gerontologia, 35: 406-410, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23989/gerontologia.111574.

Tapola E. Puolisoaan auttavien 65-84-vuotiaiden suomalaisten kokema yksinäisyys. Tampreen yliopisto. Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta Pro gradu -tutkielma. 5/2024. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202405296455.