Dissertation on young people’s wellbeing in Northern Finland

04.03.2024

Ria-Maria Adams focuses on her ethnographic study on young people’s perspectives on wellbeing in northern Finland, arguing for a shift from rigid definitions of wellbeing towards a more fluid understanding of the concept.

In her dissertation, Ria-Maria Adams looks at
different reasons why young people leave, stay or move to Northern Finland,
addressing issues of wellbeing from the young people’s own
perspectives.

In her multi-sited research, Adams
interviewed young people aged 16 – 29 living in northern Finland. Educational and
career opportunities, as well as access to nature and nature-based activities, were
key factors in wellbeing and influenced the decision-making process of young people
in the region.

Relations with the community, family and friends
also had a significant impact on wellbeing, as did the access to mobility, housing,
infrastructure and the availability of services.

Finding a place to study and a job are key issues in young people’s
lives. Young people in the North seem to be willing to compromise on career-related
issues.

– Regardless of the field of work, open job vacancies
were seen as opportunities and people were willing to look for a job in the
surrounding municipalities or work remotely, says Adams.

Adams’
dissertation consists of five peer-reviewed, published articles and a synthesis that
brings together different views of young people, ranging from rural youth in
pre-industrial communities to young lifestyle migrants in Finnish Lapland. The
dissertation provides distinct answers to what young people consider the central
building blocks of a good life, highlighting aspects of age and
agency.

The thesis was supervised by Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Peter Schweitzer and Prof. Dr. Florian
Stammler. Adams has been a visiting researcher at the Arctic Centre
throughout her entire research. Her public defense was held at University of Vienna
on 27th of February at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The public defense of Ria-Maria Adams was held at University of Vienna on
27th of February. Photo: Cristóbal Adam.