Uncertain Transitions: Changing Attitudes, Values and Lifestyles of Young Finns

This paper is based on empirical comparative and longitudinal studies of young people in times of economic crises and uncertainty in the Finnish context (Helve 2013; 2002 and 1993). It will present results of the research project “The changing lifestyles and values of temporary employed young people in the different labour markets of Finland” analyzing data from 2009 to 2011 including in-depth narrative interviews (N=20) and ethnographic observations among young people working temporarily, and the survey data gathered on-line from Finnish students in higher education (N=689). The attitude scales measured attitudes towards education, working life and society, and the future orientation and meaning of life. The paper places its focus on the research question: How uncertain employment affects attitudes, values and lifestyles of young adults? The study shows that young people working with short-term employment contracts, or who are temporary unemployed are not doing much long-term future planning. The short-term and temporary employment is changing work attitudes and values of young people. Drawing on theories of values with the bioecological model of human development through life-course (Bronfenbrenner, 1995) the paper discusses about the the impact of uncertain transitions on coping with shifts between dependency and independency as a result of prolonged transitions (c.f. Du Bois & Stauber 2005, “yoyo transition”).