Bullying and discrimination experiences among boys in Finnish basic education by origin, 2021–2025

Background

Although bullying and discrimination in schools have been extensively studied, boys’ experiences of bullying and discrimination often remain underrepresented in the discussion. This study focuses on bullying and discrimination experiences among boys in grades 8 and 9 (aged 14–16) in basic education in Finland, with a specific focus on differences by origin between 2021 and 2025.

Methods

The data are based on the nationwide School Health Promotion study, which covered 3,500 educational institutions in 2025. This analysis focuses on boys in grades 8–9 across four origin groups (foreign-born youth of foreign background, Finnish-born youth of foreign background, youth with one foreign and one Finnish-born parent, and youth with two Finnish-born parents) for the years 2021–2025, examining the proportions reporting being bullied at school at least once a week and experiencing discrimination at school or in their free time in the past 12 months.

Results

In 2025, weekly bullying was most prevalent among foreign-born boys of foreign background (18%) and lowest among boys with two Finnish-born parents (8%). Discrimination followed a similar pattern, highest among foreign-born boys (50%) and lowest among those with two Finnish-born parents (28%). Both bullying and discrimination increased across all origin groups between 2021 and 2025. Notably, boys reported higher rates of bullying than girls, while girls reported higher rates of discrimination.

Conclusions

The findings highlight persistent and growing inequalities in bullying and discrimination among boys in Finnish basic education. Boys of foreign background, particularly those born abroad, face markedly higher rates than those with two Finnish-born parents, and these disparities have widened between 2021 and 2025. Early identification and support for at-risk students are essential across all groups.

Key messages

• The consistent pattern across origin groups underscores the need for targeted, origin-sensitive prevention strategies in schools.

• Greater attention should be paid to boys’ experiences in gender-sensitive research and policy, as they remain an underrepresented group despite facing elevated risks.