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Confidence amid Uncertainty: Ambitions and Plans in a Sample of Young Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Anderson
  • Frank Bechhofer
  • Lynn Jamieson
  • David McCrone
  • Yaojun Li
  • Robert Stewart

Abstract

The limited and sometimes contradictory published literature, mostly relating to younger age groups and non-British societies, suggests that planning and a longer time perspective are inhibited by economic insecurity, by tight structuring of the life course, and a track record of failing to achieve ambitions. This paper uses survey data, backed by qualitative interviews, to investigate planning and forethought in a sample of young adults in the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy in the late 1990s. Responses are compared with those of older age groups and of people of the same age twelve years earlier. Economic insecurity and failure to achieve ambitions had been seen by our older respondents as particularly characteristic of the lives of young adults. However, in spite of considerable sense of insecurity, the young adults we studied do in general feel in control of their lives, and do have well articulated ambitions and plans to achieve them with respect especially to work and housing. Indeed, conditions of modern life almost force many to seek to plan to some degree in these areas. Forethought and an element of planning, albeit often quite provisional in its nature, seems actually to provide some sense of security in an uncertain world. Respondents also show considerable commitment to future childbearing and partnership, though past experience of entry to both has often been fairly haphazard and there is evidence of cultural resistance to overly rational planning in such areas. Failing to achieve ambitions in the past does not affect ambitions but does limit willingness to plan for the future, especially for the long-run. Poverty and job insecurity, and also the presence of children, inhibit planning, in some cases to extreme degrees.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Anderson & Frank Bechhofer & Lynn Jamieson & David McCrone & Yaojun Li & Robert Stewart, 2002. "Confidence amid Uncertainty: Ambitions and Plans in a Sample of Young Adults," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 6(4), pages 44-60, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:6:y:2002:i:4:p:44-60
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.662
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ermisch, John, 2000. "Personal relationships and marriage expectations: evidence from the 1998 British Household Panel Study," ISER Working Paper Series 2000-27, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaroslava Hasmanová Marhánková & Eva Soares Moura, 2024. "‘What Can I Plan at This Age?’ Expectations Regarding Future and Planning in Older Age," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 29(1), pages 120-136, March.
    2. Yaojun Li & Frank Bechhofer & Robert Stewart & David McCrone & Michael Anderson & Lynn Jamieson, 2002. "A Divided Working Class? Planning and Career Perception in the Service and Working Classes," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 16(4), pages 617-636, December.

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