Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction Young men may struggle in life with challenges of various concerns about their identity and who they want to be in life. Many health issues arise from social norms and wider societal determinations and for today’s young men, following such norms poses a risk of losing oneself. An essential part of health are connected to the existential dimensions in life and concerns who you are, and how well you know and understand yourself. However; little is known about what it means for young men to live a life with existential concerns. Purpose and method The purpose of this phenomenological study, based on reflective lifeworld research (RLR), is to describe young men’s experiences of living with existential concerns for which they have sought support. Eight lifeworld interviews were conducted. Results The results essentially show that young men living with existential concerns describe their situations as living close to a bottomless darkness. This is further described according to four constituents: enduring everyday life, striving for a solution, hearing an inner self-critical voice, and wearing a hard shell. Conclusion We conclude that strengthening young men’s health processes requires healthcare professionals to create an atmosphere where young men feel safe talking about existential concerns without feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Highlights
Young men may struggle in life with challenges of various concerns about their identity and who they want to be in life
This study focuses on young men1 in Sweden living with existential concerns and is part of a larger research project studying young adults’ existential concerns
The fact that the young men suffer in silence when experiencing existential concerns can be related to Galvin and Todres (2013) description of suffering that emphasizes a sense of temporary stagnation in which the individual feels “stuck”; they feel blocked and the future seems uncertain
Summary
Young men may struggle in life with challenges of various concerns about their identity and who they want to be in life. Results: The results essentially show that young men living with existential concerns describe their situations as living close to a bottomless darkness. This is further described according to four constituents: enduring everyday life, striving for a solution, hearing an inner self-critical voice, and wearing a hard shell. Existential concerns stem from the fundamental questions about life, who one is and who one wants to be as a human being. This concern might increases, during the period in life when young adults grow from being children to adults. Existential concerns may manifest themselves in the form of mental health issues
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