Autonomi and control over life choices in transition to adulthood

Following the development of the welfare state, Norwegian society has undergone a profound process of individualization, and autonomy and self-determination have become central cultural ideals. While many young people face expectations and pressures from their surroundings, the prevailing norm is that they should exercise a high degree of control over central life decisions during the transition to adulthood—what to study or work with; who to date or marry; where to live; whom to associate with; and how to lead their lives.

This has not always been the case in Norway, nor is it the case everywhere. In societies lacking a strong central state, where kinship and religion play a more prominent role in organizing social life, youth and the transition to adulthood are often periods marked by conformity to family and collective expectations.

Choosing to go against these expectations can be seen as selfish in such contexts and may result in social sanctions. As Norway has become more diverse due to immigration, family relations among immigrants have become a topic of political concern. Today, efforts to combat forced marriage, honor-based violence, and various forms of “negative social control” are central to Norwegian integration policy (NOU 2024:13).

This project aims to explore how young people experience autonomy and control over their own lives, and the degree of self-determination in key life choices related to marriage, family formation, education, employment, and more.

We will focus in particular on different groups of young adults with immigrant backgrounds and examine questions such as:

• To what extent do young adults with and without immigrant backgrounds experience autonomy, influence, and control over their own life choices?
• How do young adults navigate and balance different expectations from family, peers, and others?
• To what extent have different groups of young adults experienced pressure and sanctions related to key life choices in the transition to adulthood?
• Is there a relationship between parental restrictions and strong social control during adolescence, and a lack of perceived control over life choices in young adulthood?
• How is the experience of life control linked to education, social status, access to resources, integration, and participation in other societal arenas?

The study will target the same population as, and build on data from, The Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study in Norway (CILS-NOR). In addition to re-surveying the original cohort, we will include a supplementary sample from the same target group.