Vulnerabilities and multiple social services use among migrant and Finnish origin adults
Abstract
Background: Understanding how vulnerabilities affect service use is essential for identifying inequities. Migrants in vulnerable situations may experience challenges that influence how they use social services. This study examines how individual vulnerabilities relate to multiple social services use and whether patterns differ between population groups.
Methods: We used two nationally representative cross sectional datasets: MoniSuomi for foreign born adults and the Healthy Finland survey for the Finnish origin population. Respondents who had used ≥1 social service in the past 12 months were included (migrants n = 1 279; Finnish origin n = 1 301). Multi service use was defined as ≥ 2 service types. Vulnerabilities included unemployment, insufficient income, severe functional limitation, low social inclusion, psychological distress and low digital skills. Descriptive and comparative analyses accounted for population weights.
Results: Among migrants, several vulnerabilities were linked to higher multi service use compared with those without the same vulnerability: severe functional limitation (43.3% vs. 34.1%), psychological distress (45.2% vs. 33.8%) and low digital skills (49.8% vs. 31.8%). Among Finnish origin individuals, most vulnerabilities did not increase use; unemployment and low social inclusion were linked to lower use. Low digital skills increased multi service use in both groups (migrants: 49.8% vs. 31.8%; Finnish origin: 46.3% vs. 31.4%). Accumulated vulnerabilities increased multi service use only among migrants. Interactions showed the largest group differences for unemployment, insufficient income and psychological distress.
Conclusions: Most individual vulnerabilities were linked to multi service use among migrant individuals but not among those of Finnish origin. Low digital skills emerged as a cross cutting barrier in both groups. These findings highlight the need for accessible and targeted social service pathways that support equity in service provision.
Key messages: • Most vulnerabilities increase multi‑service use among migrant individuals but not among those of Finnish origin.
• Only low digital skills increase multi service use in both groups, indicating a cross cutting barrier.
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BibTeX
@article{kantojarvi2026vulnerabilities,
title = {{Vulnerabilities and multiple social services use among migrant and Finnish origin adults}},
author = {K Kantojärvi and R García-Velázquez and J Mäki-Opas and H Kuusio and N Skogberg},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1027},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1027},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Vulnerabilities and multiple social services use among migrant and Finnish origin adults
AU - K Kantojärvi
AU - R García-Velázquez
AU - J Mäki-Opas
AU - H Kuusio
AU - N Skogberg
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1027
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1027
AB - Background: Understanding how vulnerabilities affect service use is essential for identifying inequities. Migrants in vulnerable situations may experience challenges that influence how they use social services. This study examines how individual vulnerabilities relate to multiple social services use and whether patterns differ between population groups. Methods: We used two nationally representative cross sectional datasets: MoniSuomi for foreign born adults and the Healthy Finland survey for the Finnish origin population. Respondents who had used ≥1 social service in the past 12 months were included (migrants n = 1 279; Finnish origin n = 1 301). Multi service use was defined as ≥ 2 service types. Vulnerabilities included unemployment, insufficient income, severe functional limitation, low social inclusion, psychological distress and low digital skills. Descriptive and comparative analyses accounted for population weights. Results: Among migrants, several vulnerabilities were linked to higher multi service use compared with those without the same vulnerability: severe functional limitation (43.3% vs. 34.1%), psychological distress (45.2% vs. 33.8%) and low digital skills (49.8% vs. 31.8%). Among Finnish origin individuals, most vulnerabilities did not increase use; unemployment and low social inclusion were linked to lower use. Low digital skills increased multi service use in both groups (migrants: 49.8% vs. 31.8%; Finnish origin: 46.3% vs. 31.4%). Accumulated vulnerabilities increased multi service use only among migrants. Interactions showed the largest group differences for unemployment, insufficient income and psychological distress. Conclusions: Most individual vulnerabilities were linked to multi service use among migrant individuals but not among those of Finnish origin. Low digital skills emerged as a cross cutting barrier in both groups. These findings highlight the need for accessible and targeted social service pathways that support equity in service provision. Key messages: • Most vulnerabilities increase multi‑service use among migrant individuals but not among those of Finnish origin. • Only low digital skills increase multi service use in both groups, indicating a cross cutting barrier.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -