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Young people making sense of risk

How meanings of risk are materialized within the social context of everyday life

Mid Sweden University, Sweden

Anna Olofsson

Mid Sweden University, Sweden

By using the term ‘sensemaking’ our intention is to deepen the understanding of young people and risk. Four focus group interviews with young people were made in 2004/05, two in an urban area (Greater Stockholm) and two in a rural area (the county of Jämtland). Three reference interviews with adults were also made (two in Greater Stockholm and one in Jämtland). The results indicate that sensemaking of risk is a fruitful way of capturing hidden heterogeneity regarding how young people with similar risk perceptions give risk meaning. Based on the empirical results, that is, depending on where young people live they make sense of risk differently, a two–dimensional theoretical model for sensemaking of risk is proposed; individualism–collectivism, and local attachment–local detachment.

Key Words: sensemaking • risk • youth • individualism • collectivism • local attachment • local detachment • urban • rural

Young, Vol. 16, No. 4, 431-448 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/110330880801600405


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