Since 1978 the health behaviour of the working age population has been monitored with a postal survey. Each year a random sample (N=5000) of Finnish citizens aged 15-64 years has been drawn from the Population Register. The average response rate has been 72%. To date, the data include responses from 57,319 men and 64,262 women.
The primary purpose of monitoring is to obtain information on health behaviour such as smoking and dietary habits and changes in these behaviours. The questionnaire also asks about the consumption of alcohol, physical activity, dental health, perceived general health and the use of health services. In addition, there are questions related to change processes and health campaigns.
Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Adult Population, Spring 2010 report (pdf)
Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Adult Population, Spring 2009 report (pdf)
Contact person
Satu Helakorpi, PhD, senior researcher