An exploratory study on the attitudes of elderly Finns towards Russian-speaking minorities

ABSTRACT

Research has shown Russian speakers in Finland are often victims of prejudice and discrimination. Utilizing integrated threat theory, this study investigated the extent to which threats are significant predictors of prejudice towards Russian speakers in Finland among a highly neglected research population – the elderly. This study also aimed at finding out which threat (realistic threat, symbolic threat, and negative stereotyping) was the most significant predictor of attitudes towards members of the Russian-speaking minority, and the extent to which men and women differed. In a sample of 90 participants, aged 65 and above, results indicated realistic threat and symbolic threat were not significant predictors of prejudicial attitudes towards members of the Russian-speaking community. Negative stereotyping however had a negative effect on prejudice. Moreover, contrary to previous research on prejudice, there were no significant differences between men and women on threat.

KEYWORDS:

• Prejudice
• integrated threat
• immigrants
• elderly
• linguistic minority

Notes on contributors

Elvis Nshom (PhD, University of Jyväskylä) is a university teacher in the Department of Language and Communication at the University of Jyväskylä.

Stephen M. Croucher (PhD, University of Oklahoma) is a professor and head of the School of Communication, Journalism, and Marketing at Massey University, New Zealand.