Struggling Amidst Limitations: The Psychological Well-Being of Youth in the School-to-Work Transition

Abstract

The School-to-Work transition is one of the crucial milestones during the developmental phase towards adulthood. This phase poses unique challenges for young people, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. This study explores the psychological well-being of underprivileged youth during their transition into the world of work. This research is a phenomenological study with data obtained through photo-elicitation interviews from three participants. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis is used to analyze the data.  The findings are presented through three main themes: (a) the school to work transition, encompassing their initial experiences in entering the labor market; (b) the state of psychological well-being; and (c) traces of self-change, which illustrate both adaptive and maladaptive responses developed throughout the transition. The study reveals that two participants became trapped in unfavorable working conditions and struggled to manage responsibilities in professional settings, further complicated by disharmonious relationships with colleagues, contributing to low job satisfaction. In addition, all three participants expressed difficulty in accepting their current life circumstances. These factors collectively impacted the psychological well-being of the participants.