Youth and work: coping with the feeling of uncertainty
The first stage of adulthood is a period full of energy, confidence, and optimism, but sometimes also of disillusionment if desires and expectations are thwarted by reality. It is a transitional phase brimming with opportunities and possibilities , but also with emerging responsibilities and challenges. For those pursuing university studies, until graduation, the career path is defined and the route clearly marked. After graduation, young adults face a completely new reality that requires a series of decisions regarding work, career, home, and social relationships.
This period is often referred to as the " quarter-life crisis, " which is a popular term to describe the developmental challenges and critical episodes of emerging adulthood (18-30 years), which occur when young adults enter the " real world " after graduation, for example, when they permanently leave the family home and enter the labor market.
It can be defined as a period of insecurity and doubt related to major areas of life: career, family, romantic and social relationships, housing, and financial situation. It is often characterized by feelings of being lost, scared, alone, or confused, and is usually accompanied by anxiety and worry about the direction and quality of one's life.
In the workplace, young adults face pressure and uncertainty about their situation and future when searching for employment and choosing a career. They are expected to achieve high levels of professional training and perform at a high level at work. At the same time, however, they may face economic insecurity and unstable employment contracts, during a period when their personal lives require some stability, including having a place to live and committing to a life project that may include a partner and, eventually, a family.
In fact, in the labor market, this group is in a stage characterized by constant transitions, where short-term employment, as well as job and company changes, seem to be the rule rather than the exception. Furthermore, although modern societies offer increasingly numerous and equitable educational opportunities, the lack of work experience and suitable employment opportunities makes young people particularly vulnerable in the labor market.
Due to precarious and inadequate working conditions, young people are less likely to participate in the labor market, and unemployment is becoming a serious problem. In fact, over the past three decades, young adults have been exposed to precarious and temporary jobs, and youth unemployment has been higher than overall unemployment rates in almost every European country.
This job insecurity is also reflected in the unemployment rate for 15- to 29-year-olds, which hovered around 15% in the European Union in 2016. Unemployment among young people has significant consequences for both society and the individual.
At a social level, unemployment benefits, underutilization of productive potential, and non-payment of taxes lead to an increase in financial costs.
At an individual level, there are many examples of the relationship between youth unemployment and poor physical and mental health .
Unemployed young people are more likely to adopt unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and substance use, and are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Furthermore, unemployment in this age group has been associated with common mental health problems, such as stress and psychosomatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. Unemployment and career choices are among the main reasons why young adults experience stress or anxiety . In addition, job insecurity and poor job protection also affect mental well-being, quality of life, and contribute to life dissatisfaction.
Unemployment at a young age can also have long-term consequences. From a labor market perspective, it is associated with a higher risk of future unemployment and lower income and job quality. From a health perspective, it is associated with declining mental health and illness later in life.
In this scenario, unemployed young people or those working in precarious conditions appear to be especially vulnerable to health problems.
The distress experienced by young workers living in this condition of uncertainty, and in particular the implications for mental health that may arise from it, must be carefully considered and actively addressed with specific actions at the labor and public health levels, improving working conditions and developing specific health programs.
Article provided by Empower . Authors: Claudia Toppo, Martina Cacciatore, Alberto Raggi and Matilde Leonardi.
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