# What We Don't Speak of: Exploring the Impact of Historical Trauma and Discrimination on the Health and Well-Being of Sweden Finns

## TL;DR

This study explores how historical trauma and discrimination affect the health and well-being of Sweden Finns, a national minority group in Sweden.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the health impacts of systemic minoritization and historical trauma among Sweden Finns in Stockholm.

## Key findings

- Participants highlighted the importance of Finnish traditions for personal well-being.
- Transgenerational trauma and marginalization contribute to health challenges among Sweden Finns.
- Themes of in-between identities and language played a central role in participants' experiences.

## Abstract

Sweden Finns are one of the five officially recognized national minority groups in Sweden. Approximately 3.6 percent of the total Swedish population are either born in Finland or have at least one Finnish-born parent; however, since Swedish national minority legislation explicitly applies a self-identification principle rather than objective criteria in determining who belongs to a national minority group, this figure might not correspond to the number of people who actually view themselves as Sweden Finns. On group level, Sweden Finns have been socioeconomically underprivileged in comparison with the Swedish majority population, and tend to be worse off in terms of somatic and mental health. The aim of this study was to explore the many ways in which official minority status, as well as more subtle and systemic processes of minoritization, affect health and healthcare encounters in the Sweden Finnish population in Stockholm, Sweden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adults self-identifying as Sweden Finns. The interview data were analyzed using a thematic analysis framework. In all phases of the study, consultation was sought with a reference group representing the Sweden Finnish community. Three main themes were identified: (1) In-between identities, (2) The meaning of language, and (3) Lack of understanding in Swedish society. The participants underscore the importance of Finnish traditions, food, and customs for their personal well-being. Even so, the findings also point to the many ways in which transgenerational trauma experiences and marginalization contribute to the health challenges faced by Sweden Finns today. The study sheds light on the complex layers of historical trauma and ongoing discrimination and their impact on health and healthcare encounters, underscoring the need for cultural sensitivity within Swedish healthcare and Swedish society.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11013-026-09969-0.