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

Mette Lykke Nielsen; Trine Nøhr Winding; Regine Grytnes; Mette Toft Rønberg; Niels Ulrik Sørensen

doi:10.1177/11033088231162900

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

Mette Lykke Nielsen, Trine Nøhr Winding, Regine Grytnes, Mette Toft Rønberg, Niels Ulrik Sørensen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

This article examines some of the conditions that can explain the rise in young workers’ mental health and well-being problems in early work life. Based on 30 qualitative interviews with Danish workers under 30, who all had experienced different kinds of mental health and well-being problems in early work life, it shows how poor working environment and employment conditions often are triggering factors for young workers’ mental health and well-being problems. Mental health and well-being in early work life seem to be linked to the conditions through which young workers’ cultivate themselves as valuable working subjects in a time where work is a crucial arena for self-formation and self-realization. It is concluded that the combination of performance-oriented workplace cultures, temporary employment, and young workers’ aiming to achieve success in their work life, is a toxic combination for mental health and well-being.

Translated title of the contribution	En giftig kombination: Performance, midlertidighed og kampen for succes i starten af arbejdslivet
Original language	English
Journal	Young
Volume	31
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	268-287
Number of pages	20
ISSN	1103-3088
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/11033088231162900
Publication status	Published - Jun 2023

Keywords

Early work life
identity
mental health
performance culture
precarity
temporary work
well-being
Work
working environment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1177/11033088231162900Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0

Open Access articleFinal published version, 1.16 MBLicence: CC BY-NC 4.0

AUB Link

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Cite this

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

abstract = "This article examines some of the conditions that can explain the rise in young workers{\textquoteright} mental health and well-being problems in early work life. Based on 30 qualitative interviews with Danish workers under 30, who all had experienced different kinds of mental health and well-being problems in early work life, it shows how poor working environment and employment conditions often are triggering factors for young workers{\textquoteright} mental health and well-being problems. Mental health and well-being in early work life seem to be linked to the conditions through which young workers{\textquoteright} cultivate themselves as valuable working subjects in a time where work is a crucial arena for self-formation and self-realization. It is concluded that the combination of performance-oriented workplace cultures, temporary employment, and young workers{\textquoteright} aiming to achieve success in their work life, is a toxic combination for mental health and well-being.",

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author = "Nielsen, {Mette Lykke} and Winding, {Trine N{\o}hr} and Regine Grytnes and {Toft R{\o}nberg}, Mette and S{\o}rensen, {Niels Ulrik}",

year = "2023",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1177/11033088231162900",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

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AU - Winding, Trine Nøhr

AU - Grytnes, Regine

AU - Toft Rønberg, Mette

AU - Sørensen, Niels Ulrik

PY - 2023/6

Y1 - 2023/6

N2 - This article examines some of the conditions that can explain the rise in young workers’ mental health and well-being problems in early work life. Based on 30 qualitative interviews with Danish workers under 30, who all had experienced different kinds of mental health and well-being problems in early work life, it shows how poor working environment and employment conditions often are triggering factors for young workers’ mental health and well-being problems. Mental health and well-being in early work life seem to be linked to the conditions through which young workers’ cultivate themselves as valuable working subjects in a time where work is a crucial arena for self-formation and self-realization. It is concluded that the combination of performance-oriented workplace cultures, temporary employment, and young workers’ aiming to achieve success in their work life, is a toxic combination for mental health and well-being.

AB - This article examines some of the conditions that can explain the rise in young workers’ mental health and well-being problems in early work life. Based on 30 qualitative interviews with Danish workers under 30, who all had experienced different kinds of mental health and well-being problems in early work life, it shows how poor working environment and employment conditions often are triggering factors for young workers’ mental health and well-being problems. Mental health and well-being in early work life seem to be linked to the conditions through which young workers’ cultivate themselves as valuable working subjects in a time where work is a crucial arena for self-formation and self-realization. It is concluded that the combination of performance-oriented workplace cultures, temporary employment, and young workers’ aiming to achieve success in their work life, is a toxic combination for mental health and well-being.

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KW - performance culture

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

AUB Link

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Fingerprint

Unges mentale trivsel i første job. Betydningen af præstation, arbejdsmiljø og midlertidighed.

Cite this

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

AUB Link

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Unges mentale trivsel i første job. Betydningen af præstation, arbejdsmiljø og midlertidighed.

Cite this