The Finnish Student Health Survey
FSHS has conducted the national Finnish Student Health Survey in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016, in which the target group has been Finnish students who are under the age of 35. The survey is targeted on tertiary education students (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) and has included since 2008 the students’ from universities of applied sciences.
These surveys cover issues related to students’ physical, mental and social health. Moreover, the survey has covered issues that impact health such as social relations, studies, income, use of health care services and opinion of the quality of those services. The core questions in the survey have remained unchanged since the initiation of the survey.
However, additional themes have been covered on an ad hoc basis. Examples of such themes are issues related to learning disabilities, e-services, use of internet, gambling, traveling, experiences related to bullying- stalking- and violence, exhaustion, the cultural and social impact of exercise, sexuality, asthma, atopic eczema, experiences of pain in the head and facial areas, combination of family and student life. Several themes that have been covered in the survey throughout the years are relevant to the students’ ability to work and study.
Data obtained in the surveys has been used in around 200 research reports, articles, abstracts or other publications. Moreover, the data has also been used in developing student health care services and other health enhancing projects.