Conceptualizing Well-being in Youth: The Potential of Youth Clubs

Abstract

This study identifies key mechanisms in youth clubs for fostering well-being among vulnerable youths. We develop a framework to conceptualize prerequisites of well-being in youth, namely having a safe place to be, positive relations with others and possibilities for growth. This conceptualization maintains insights from psychological elements of well-being while bringing psychosocial theory of identity in youth into a sociological orientation. Understanding youth as a dynamic and situated phase expands the investigation of both well-being and youth clubs from merely revolving around ‘risk’ and ‘protection’. Based on interviews with youth workers and participants in youth clubs in Norway, the article describes how ‘hanging out’ in adult supervised but otherwise unstructured spaces provide youths with safety, belonging and a gradual sense of mastery. As such, the club may function as an institutionalized safe space and gives time, a ‘moratorium’, offering vulnerable youths shelter from adult responsibilities and the acceleration of societal demands.

Understanding mental health promotion in organized leisure communities for young people: a realist review

“…Two studies on circus training and youth club activities were categorized as “other leisure communities” as they did not fit categorically within the remaining studies ( 35 , 67 ). Despite the apparent differences between these two types of leisure communities, the analysis revealed two transversal mechanisms: the development of self-confidence and the significance of positive social relations ( Table 8 ).…”

“…Exploring circus trainings impact on young people's wellbeing it is underscored that the circus training made the young people feel proud and brave contributing to the development of self-confidence ( 67 ), and that participation in youth clubs promoted the development of competencies contributing to self-assurance ( 35 ). Furthermore, positive social relations emerged as central components in both contexts.…”

A Toxic Combination: Performance, Temporariness, and Struggling for Success in Early Working Life

“…This pressure is experienced and dealt in different ways, among most young people, it does not necessarily lead to problems with mental health or well-being (Katznelson et al, 2021). Eriksen and Seland (2021) argue that there is a lack of conceptualization of the term well-being, despite its proliferation in research and youth policy. This also seems to be the case with 'mental health' (Landstedt et al, 2017).…”

“…We find inspiration in WHO (2022) that defines mental health 'as a state of mental well-being which enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community…'. In a recent study, Eriksen and Seland (2021) conceptualize well-being. The authors suggest 'that a fruitful way to operationalize well-being for a sociological investigation may be to shift the focus from psychology's subjective elements of well-being to assessing contextual prerequisites for well-being in youth ' (p. 178).…”

“…Eriksen and Seland (2021) argue that there is a lack of conceptualization of the term well-being, despite its proliferation in research and youth policy. This also seems to be the case with ‘mental health’ (Landstedt et al, 2017).…”