Abstract
AimThe aim of our paper was to explore expressions of life choices and life chances (aspects of agency within structures) related to power and experiences of health among early unemployed adolescent young men during the transition period to adulthood. These expressions of agency within structure were interpreted in the light of Cockerham’s Health Lifestyles Theory. Furthermore, social constructions of masculinities were addressed in our analysis.MethodsRepeated interviews with ten young men in a cohort of school leavers were analyzed with qualitative content analysis.Results and DiscussionCockerham’s model was useful for interpreting our findings and we found disposition to act to be a crucial theoretical tool to capture the will and intentions of participants in relation to health. We developed the model in the following ways: structure and socialization were visualized as surrounding the whole model. Analyses of what enhances or restricts power are important. In addition to practices of health lifestyles, we added experiences of health as outcome as well as emotional aspects in disposition to act. We interpret our findings as constructions of masculinities within certain structures, in relation to choices, habitus and practices.ConclusionsQualitative research could contribute to develop the understanding of the agency within structure relationships. Future studies need to pay attention to experiences of health among young people at the margin of the labor market in various milieus – and to analyze these in relation to gender constructions and within the frame-work of agency within structure.
Highlights
The increasing rate of youth unemployment has become a major global problem
Cockerham’s model was useful for interpreting our findings and we found disposition to act to be a crucial theoretical tool to capture the will and intentions of participants in relation to health
The stress of constructing masculinity amongst the unemployed may be related to the stigma of not being able to construct a social identity through work and breadwinning
Summary
The stress of constructing masculinity amongst the unemployed may be related to the stigma of not being able to construct a social identity through work and breadwinning. There is a lack of comprehensive theoretical models in order to understand the development of poor health among the unemployed [3]. By definition the unemployed are limited by structures in the sense that they lack employment possibilities. In this respect the structures generate powerlessness over their working life. Individuals can use agency to negotiate, challenge and transform their contexts and the surrounding intersecting power-structures, related to for example gender and social class. Gendered dimensions such as constructions of masculinities in relation to experiences of health need to be developed within the model
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