The influence of living conditions on adolescent girls’ health

Abstract

Adolescence is described by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare as the healthiest period in life. However, adolescent girls differ in that they self-report that their health decreases with age. The aim of this hermeneutical study was to describe the meaning of living conditions in relation to adolescent girls’ health. Guided by principles of reflective lifeworld research, 15 interviews with adolescent girls were analysed. The result section consists of four narratives with their existential interpretations illustrating different ways of approaching living conditions and their meaning for health and well-being. The narratives are: Approaching everyday life in a balanced way—feeling harmonious; approaching everyday life with ambiguity—feeling confused; approaching everyday life as an intellectual project—striving for control; approaching everyday life as a struggle—feeling forlorn. In addition, a comprehensive understanding was developed by using the lifeworld dimensions: lived body, lived room, lived time, and lived relations. These dimensions may deepen the understanding of important parts of those living conditions which are meaningful for the girls’ health and well-being. By using the dimensions, complex living conditions have been explored and the meaning of different parts clarified. The girls’ thoughts and feelings are often ambiguous and sometimes contradictory, depending on the situation. The health of adolescent girls needs to be understood against the background of their experiences of living conditions. One way to support their health and well-being seems to be to supply them with forums where they can talk about their living conditions.

“Thinking about the future, what’s gonna happen?”—How young people in Sweden who neither work nor study perceive life experiences in relation to health and well-being

“…However, relationships to others can also create or strengthen feelings of exclusion. This is in line with Larsson et al (2012); relationships with others can be a source of well-being as well as a cause of feelings of loneliness, otherness, and exclusion. Furthermore, in line with Pålsson (2012), we argue that inclusion and exclusion, which affect young people’s health and well-being, are not static positions.…”

“…In addition to survey-based studies on the NEET population focusing on differences within the group of NEETs (Nordenmark et al, 2015) or between the NEET and their EET peers (in education, employment or training; Nardi et al, 2015), there is according to Woodgate and Leach (2010) a need for investigation that deal with young people’s perspectives on what creates and affects health. In addition, Larsson, Johansson Sundler, and Ekebergh (2012) argue that health experiences must be understood in relation to young people’s life experiences and their own conceptualizing of these experiences. Some studies deal with young people’s health perceptions in a Swedish context (Einberg, Lidell, & Clausson, 2015; Larsson et al, 2012; Randell et al, 2016).…”

“…In addition, Larsson, Johansson Sundler, and Ekebergh (2012) argue that health experiences must be understood in relation to young people’s life experiences and their own conceptualizing of these experiences. Some studies deal with young people’s health perceptions in a Swedish context (Einberg, Lidell, & Clausson, 2015; Larsson et al, 2012; Randell et al, 2016). Even though these studies focus mainly on health experiences, the participants were recruited exclusively in school.…”

Conditions and strategies high school students living in lodgings experience as important and helpful for their well-being

“…Being seen, supported and confirmed, and experiencing togetherness, as well as being part of a friendly class environment and making new friends at school, were essential to the lodgers’ well-being. Several studies confirm the importance of relational support to adolescents’ well-being (Einberg, Lidell, & Clausson, 2015; Kostenius & Öhrling, 2006; Larsson et al, 2012; Larsson, Sundler, & Ekebergh, 2013). Relational support in our study was experienced as a resource for trust and security, care and support, confidence, confirmation and feelings of being included and belonging.…”

“…In a Swedish study among adolescent girls aged 13–19, Larsson, Johansson Sundler, and Ekebergh (2012) found that togetherness, meaningful relations with others and balancing different aspects of life were important for the girls’ experience of health and well-being. In their everyday lives, balance, exemplified as stability in relationships with family and friends, was linked with feelings of well-being, while imbalance disrupted this state and called for action and change.…”