Young adulthood in uncertain times : The association between sense of personal control and employment, education, personal relationships and health

Journal article


Chesters, Jenny, Smith, Jonathan, Cuervo, Hernan, Laughland-Booy, Jacqueline, Wyn, Johanna, Skrbis, Zlatko and Woodman, Dan. (2019). Young adulthood in uncertain times : The association between sense of personal control and employment, education, personal relationships and health. Journal of Sociology. 55(2), pp. 389-408. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783318800767
AuthorsChesters, Jenny, Smith, Jonathan, Cuervo, Hernan, Laughland-Booy, Jacqueline, Wyn, Johanna, Skrbis, Zlatko and Woodman, Dan
Abstract

Young adults in Australia, and in many other advanced countries, are more likely to be highly educated but less likely to be in full-time employment than their parents were. Although insecure employment has long been a feature of labour markets, increased labour flexibility in recent decades has resulted in insecure employment becoming entrenched. In this article, we draw on data from young people in their early twenties to examine the interrelationships between work and life. Although we focus on the association between precarious employment and sense of personal control, we also examine the interrelationships between sense of personal control, education, relationships and health. Rather than experiencing a short period of insecure employment before transitioning into permanent jobs, young people now experience a ‘new adulthood’ characterised by extended periods of insecurity, undermining their sense of personal control. Our aim is to identify what it takes to make a secure, healthy and meaningful life.

Keywordsprecarious employment; sense of personal control; young adulthood
Year2019
JournalJournal of Sociology
Journal citation55 (2), pp. 389-408
PublisherSage Publications Ltd.
ISSN1440-7833
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783318800767
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85059347071
Open accessOpen access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range389-408
ProjectOur Lives Project
Life Patterns
Research GroupSchool of Arts
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Supplemental file
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All rights reserved
File Access Level
Open
ARC Funded ResearchThis output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001
Grant IDDP0557667
DP0878781
DP130101490
DP160100360
DP460101611
DP1094132
DP0557902
DP0209462
A79803304
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This record includes a pre-print version of the final publication.

Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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