Vietnamese refugees found niche in Finnish society
Study: Strong Finnish identity as adult linked with depression
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Vietnamese who arrived in Finland as refugees in their childhood or youth have integrated well into Finland, even though their Vietnamese identity has grown stronger over time, according to a study by social psychologist Liisa Kosonen.
For the study, Kosonen she followed the growing-up process of Vietnamese children after their arrival in Finland.
The first Vietnamese refugees arrived in Finland in 1979, and another group came in 1983.
“Finland was a fairly closed country at that time. As immigrants, the Vietnamese were guinea pigs of sorts.”
Kosonen served as a teacher of the first Vietnamese children in Espoo. “It was a real fun time. The children really absorbed information.”
As a teacher, she also saw some of the anguish felt by the children at school. Kosonen decided to examine the experiences of the children more closely, by following up on the lives of nearly 100 Vietnamese children attending Finnish comprehensive school in 1992.
At that time, nearly half of them had experienced discrimination. “The children were clearly more lonely than the Finns. Finding friends was more important for them than doing well at school.”
The recession in the early 1990s led to tougher attitudes toward immigrants. The intensity of the attitudes hit the Vietnamese as well, even though they were generally seen as diligent and adaptable.”
Conflicts arose within Vientamese families on reacting to Finnish values. One of these was the tendency in Finland for young people to become independent earlier than had been customary in Vietnamese culture.
Vietnamese parents are more accustomed to having a role in their children’s decisions on matters such as dating, choice of professions, and moving into one’s own home than is the case in Finland.
The children and young people who assimilated Finnish values quickly suffered from childhood depression more frequently than others. “They had no support groups among Finns or Vietnamese.”
With adulthood, the identity of young Vietnamese has grown stronger, according to the study. Kosonen conducted new interviews in 2004.
“Respect for parents and the solidity of the family contact are considered very important. For instance, many Vietnamese find the idea of institutional care for the elderly to be abhorrent.”
For adult Vietnamese, strong identification with Finns correlates with depression. The researcher can only guess the reasons for this.
“We can ask if Finns are willing to allow Vietnamese to be Finns, or is it perhaps that the Vietnamese community will not accept a Finnish identity?”
In spite of being Vietnamese, young Vietnamese immigrants reaching adulthood have assimilated ideals of equality that are typical for Finns. “They no longer favour male, or older siblings in a family.”
For the study, Kosonen she followed the growing-up process of Vietnamese children after their arrival in Finland.
The first Vietnamese refugees arrived in Finland in 1979, and another group came in 1983.
“Finland was a fairly closed country at that time. As immigrants, the Vietnamese were guinea pigs of sorts.”
Kosonen served as a teacher of the first Vietnamese children in Espoo. “It was a real fun time. The children really absorbed information.”
As a teacher, she also saw some of the anguish felt by the children at school. Kosonen decided to examine the experiences of the children more closely, by following up on the lives of nearly 100 Vietnamese children attending Finnish comprehensive school in 1992.
At that time, nearly half of them had experienced discrimination. “The children were clearly more lonely than the Finns. Finding friends was more important for them than doing well at school.”
The recession in the early 1990s led to tougher attitudes toward immigrants. The intensity of the attitudes hit the Vietnamese as well, even though they were generally seen as diligent and adaptable.”
Conflicts arose within Vientamese families on reacting to Finnish values. One of these was the tendency in Finland for young people to become independent earlier than had been customary in Vietnamese culture.
Vietnamese parents are more accustomed to having a role in their children’s decisions on matters such as dating, choice of professions, and moving into one’s own home than is the case in Finland.
The children and young people who assimilated Finnish values quickly suffered from childhood depression more frequently than others. “They had no support groups among Finns or Vietnamese.”
With adulthood, the identity of young Vietnamese has grown stronger, according to the study. Kosonen conducted new interviews in 2004.
“Respect for parents and the solidity of the family contact are considered very important. For instance, many Vietnamese find the idea of institutional care for the elderly to be abhorrent.”
For adult Vietnamese, strong identification with Finns correlates with depression. The researcher can only guess the reasons for this.
“We can ask if Finns are willing to allow Vietnamese to be Finns, or is it perhaps that the Vietnamese community will not accept a Finnish identity?”
In spite of being Vietnamese, young Vietnamese immigrants reaching adulthood have assimilated ideals of equality that are typical for Finns. “They no longer favour male, or older siblings in a family.”
Helsingin Sanomat