This paper contributes to the field of research on entrepreneurship and self-employment. More explicitly, it contributes to the research regarding heterogeneity by studying the ‘necessity’ self-employed. In this paper, we question the notion of ‘necessity’ and its connection to weak labour market attainment by measuring individual’s human capital in relation to local labour market structures. The used data derives from relevant labour market data combined with data from a postal survey study conducted in 2011, containing self-employed between the age 25–64. The results show no connection between labour market attainment and ‘necessity’ self-employment. The results however indicate a correlation between sociodemographic-aspects and ‘necessity’ self-employment.

Background The point of departure in this thesis is that unemployment is a recognised determinant of health, which may vary between different ages and among men and women. Despite governmental policies to tackle unemployment and ease its effects on health, unemployment continues to bea growing public health problem. Aim The objective of the thesis was to analyse, from a gender perspective, the relationships between ill health and unemployment as well as other unstable labour market positions in the transition from youth to adulthood. The aim of each paper was: I. Does the association between ill health and unemployment differ between young people and adults? II. Is the transition from an unstable labour market position to permanent paid job health-protective? III. Is participation in labour market programmes related to mental health? IV. What is the association between ill health among men and women and how could it be analysed with a relational theory of gender? Methods The longitudinal study was carried out in Luleå - a medium-sized industrial town in the Northern Sweden. The cohort, consisting of all 1083 pupils (506 girls and 577 boys) aged 16 who attended the last year of compulsory school in 1981, was followed up at the ages of 16, 18, 21 and 30. The response rates were high e.g. 96.4% at 14 years follow-up. The cohort was followed with extensive and well-validated questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression was used in all papers, while propensity score matchingwas used in Paper III. Results Paper I. Health effects of long-term unemployment differed between young people and adults. Long-term unemployment was more related to psychological ill health and smoking in young people than in adults. Paper II. The results indicated that after controlling for gender as well as for an indicator of health-related selection, possible confounders and mediators transition from an unstable labour market position to permanent employment could be health-promoting. Paper III. No association was found between participation in active labour market programmes and psychological symptoms. Due to methodological shortages the results have to be interpreted with caution. Adjustment for either all background selection variables or the propensity score in multivariate logistic regression showed similar associations suggesting that propensity score could be used to adjust for background selection variables. Paper IV. A strong association between unemployment and suboptimal self-rated health among women and high alcohol consumption among men was found and a theory of structural relations was used to discuss the gendered patterns for ill health. Conclusion The thesis indicated gendered patterns of relations between unemployment and the health outcomes, in the transition from youth to adulthood. The policy implications of my thesis are that full employment policies should be promoted to reduce the health inequalities associated with unemployment. / The Northern Swedish Cohort study

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser. Även tryckt utgåva.

Underbyggd av ett teoretiskt ramverk inom livsloppssociologin undersöker föreliggande studie effekterna av Sense of Control (SoC) och framtidsutsikter på den teoretiska relationen mellan psykiskt välbefinnande och arbetsmarknadsposition (LMP) hos unga studenter på högskolenivån. Materialet består av enkätsvar från totalt 155 studenter, i åldrarna 19-30, boende på olika platser i Sverige. En multipel regressionsanalys genomfördes där välbefinnande, LMP, framtidsutsikter och Sense of Control (SoC) ingick. Tvärtemot hypotesen förmådde LMP inte predicera välbefinnande. SoC, däremot, förmådde måttligt predicera välbefinnande (β = .237). Multivariat analys visade även på ett måttligt samband mellan LMP och SoC (r = 0.226, p = 0.005), samt mellan SoC och framtidsutsikter (r = 0.275, p < .001). / Underpinned by a theoretical framework within life course sociology, this study examines the effects of Sense of Control (SoC) and future expectations on the theoretical relationship between psychological well-being and labour market position (LMP) among young students within the academia. The data consists of survey responses from a total of 155 students, aged 19-30, living in various parts of Sweden. A multiple regression analysis was conducted in which well-being, LMP, future expectations and Sense of Control (SoC) were featured. Contrary to the hypothesis, LMP was unsuccessful at predicting well-being. SoC, on the other hand, was found to modestly predict well-being (β = .237). Multivariate analysis also showed a modest relationship between LMP and SoC (r = 0.226, p = 0.005), as well as between SoC and future expectations (r = 0.275, p < .001).