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In this study, we examined how growing up in a bilingual (Swedish-Finnish) versus monolingual (Swedish only) household in a bilingual region of Finland affected adolescents' language competence and language-related perspective-taking, and how these factors were related to adolescents' language choice in interaction. Survey data were collected from 197 secondary school students in Finland, and analyzed via path modeling. Results supported predictions that children from bilingual households are both more aware of other speakers' linguistic preferences and needs, and more competent in their language skills, and that both these factors contribute to linguistic accommodation (i.e. language choice). Specifically, our findings suggest language competence appears to function as the 'default' determinant of language choice and that perspective-taking attenuates this relationship as consideration of others' wants or needs (that differ from this default) increase. These findings provide new insights into the drivers of language choice in multilingual contexts.

Cohabitation is more common than marriage when couples are expecting their first child in Finland. However, little is known about possible differences in wellbeing between the two groups. In this study, we examined differences in parental wellbeing, relationship satisfaction, infant health outcomes, and use of social support among cohabiting and married first-time parents. Survey data was collected from 903 parents during pregnancy and at one month postpartum. Cohabiting parents had more depressive symptoms than married parents. They were also less satisfied with their relationships and expressed less satisfaction with the quality of support they got from their partner. Cohabiting fathers did not use the cost-free support from maternity clinics as often as married fathers. Our results show differences in well-being between married and cohabiting first-time parents and that the support from maternity clinics should better acknowledge diversity and address the different needs of different types of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines Swedish language television viewing among Finnish speakers in Finland. Finnish speakers who watch some Swedish language television are found to have more positive attitudes towards Swedish speakers and the Swedish language. Mediated models suggest that instrumental and integrative language learning motivations differentially mediate the association between Swedish language television viewing and attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]