About 3,000 respondents took part in the poll; they were questioned about their stance on equality, the respect of rights and various security threats in Finland.
SPEK experts expressed surprise over the preliminary results of the survey, which they said suggests a departure from the traditional view of Finland as a safe haven of equality where rights are respected.
"It was indeed surprising that so many people answered in that way. It’s not good at all from a security point of view. It means that citizens do not feel equal, that inequality is growing," SPEK’s Head of Research and Development Teija Mankkinen was quoted by the Finnish radio Yle as saying.
More than 50 percent of respondents said that the protracted economic downturn poses the most feared threat to Finnish security.
One in five, in turn, voiced dismay about their country's foreign policy, and a similar amount said that they are concerned with terrorism threats.
Finns consider terrorism to be much more serious challenge than the outbreak of war, a serious epidemic, an environmental catastrophe and the inflow of refugees, according to the poll, which is due to be officially published in autumn.
