Page 32 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Stress in early adulthood

in the reporting of stress among young individuals has ideally be able to work for many years. However, there is a
been documented (National Institute of Public Health, lack of studies investigating how the well-being of young
2020), and many young individuals experience mounting individuals influences their subsequent work lives. It is
pressures and expectations in their academic or vocational essential to understand the initiatives that should be taken
pursuits, leading to elevated levels of stress (Due et al., to ensure that the next generation of workers establishes
2014). International comparative surveys show an increase a good and stable connection to the labor market.
in educational stress during school years (Klinger et al., However, the role of the psychosocial work environment
2015; Löfstedt et al., 2019), with girls reporting the highest in the stress and psychological well-being of young adult’s
stress levels (Trolle et al., 2017). Sociologists have argued remains debated. In Denmark, workers below the age of
that the negative trends in the development of mental health 35 report higher stress levels compared to the general
and stress reflect a wider social trend in the “Performance working population (NFA, 2017). Studies investigating
Society,” where young individuals are described as the association between work environment and the
“Generation Performance,” whose experience of worth development of stress or other mental health problems
and identity is increasingly about performing optimally have identified associations between poor psychosocial
and being positioned as a winner (Madsen, 2018; Petersen, work environment factors like a low degree of procedural
2016), making success in life the predominant idea in life and interactional organizational justice and the experience
(Sørensen et al., 2017). The young generation commonly of stress (Oshio et al., 2014) and between job resources
demonstrates high levels of discipline and displays a such as variety, autonomy, or good relations with superiors
thoughtful approach when weighing the outcomes of their or coworkers and mental well-being (Taris, 1999). These
decisions in relation to future prospects (Farrugia, 2020), results are supported by the conclusion of a review from
which often leads to feelings of worry and stress (Nielsen 2011, which revealed that high psychological demands and
et al., 2010). a low level of social support are associated with mental
health problems, including stress among young workers
1.2. The negative health consequences of stress (Laberge & Ledoux, 2011). At the same time, a reverse
Basically, perceived stress develops when demands in association between stress and work environment was
the environment exceed a person’s resources and thus demonstrated, where mental health problems can affect
endanger the person’s well-being (Lazarus & Folkman, the experienced work environment of young workers
1984). Stress in youth can have major repercussions on (Taris, 1999), and a previous Danish study documented
young individuals’ lives. In the short term, this can lead that mentally vulnerable young individuals experience
to an extension of the time required to complete their more demanding work environments early in their careers
education or to the risk of dropping out of school or compared to their peers (Winding et al., 2015). However,
university. However, high-stress levels in youth can also it remains unclear if this negative association is due to
have potential negative long-term consequences for the the vulnerable position of new employees and whether
individual’s physical and psychological health and well- it diminishes with more experience. This knowledge is
being (WHO, 2009). A high degree of perceived stress important for implementing preventive measures in the
among young adults has been found to relate to poorer workplace.
self-rated health, poorer health behavior, and a higher 1.4. Temporary employment
risk of depression (Due et al., 2014; Nielsen et al., 2010).
Furthermore, a study by Hanson et al. (2016) discovered In recent years, the negative consequences of part-
that accumulated stress that occurs in childhood affects time work, short-term employment, and insecurity in
reward-related activity in the brain, causing decreased employment have gained focus, especially since different
motivation and increased negative mood at age 26. forms of temporary employment have become increasingly
common among young individuals transitioning from
1.3. Stress and work-life education to work life (Nielsen et al., 2017; Nielsen
Stress during adolescence can have an enduring negative et al., 2018). Temporary employment has been identified
effect that extends into adult work life, contributing as a potential social determinant that can affect the health
to stressful working conditions (work stress). In fact, and well-being of employees and their families (Benach
a recent study on the same cohort revealed that stress et al., 2016). However, research in this area is still sparse,
during adolescence doubled the risk of low labor market particularly regarding the impact of temporary work on
participation between ages 25 and 29 compared to those stress development, especially early in one’s career.
who had not been stressed (Winding et al., 2023). The labor Thus, there is a need for more knowledge about the
market is in great need for young workers, and they should potential negative impact of high-stress levels during

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 26 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0864