Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare service

Abstract Background Individuals with social, mental health and/or addiction issues often face significant barriers to accessing, maintaining, and re-entering education or employment. Exclusion from these domains is linked to feelings of marginalization, hopelessness, and a reduced sense of significa...

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Main Authors: Kristin Berre Ørjasæter, Dina von Heimburg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02597-0
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author Kristin Berre Ørjasæter
Dina von Heimburg
author_facet Kristin Berre Ørjasæter
Dina von Heimburg
author_sort Kristin Berre Ørjasæter
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Individuals with social, mental health and/or addiction issues often face significant barriers to accessing, maintaining, and re-entering education or employment. Exclusion from these domains is linked to feelings of marginalization, hopelessness, and a reduced sense of significance. Methods In our study, following the phenomenological reflexive lifeworld research approach, we conducted 11 interviews with young people facing social, mental health and/or addiction issues, who have experienced being out of school and work. The aim was to explore the potential of art-based vocational rehabilitation (ABVR) from the perspective of young people. Results The essential meaning of ABVR can be understood as a starting point on a journey for young people with complex issues in becoming valued members of society. The essential meaning is further explicated through its five constituents: [1] experiencing a sense of belonging [2], building friendship [3], empowering through goal-oriented rehabilitation [4], developing authenticity, and [5] believing that one matters. Conclusions Participation in ABVR reshaped young people’s self-perceptions, their confidence in their abilities, and their sense of significance to others. Despite once living on the borders of society, they joined a community of like-minded peers, contributing value and feeling that they matter. Altogether, attending ABVR supported a sense of citizenship and mattering.
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spelling doaj-art-75af1689d658423ba8909cd81a8b13dc2025-08-20T02:41:30ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-03-0113111310.1186/s40359-025-02597-0Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare serviceKristin Berre Ørjasæter0Dina von Heimburg1Faculty of Nursing and Health Science, Division of Health and Community Participation, Nord UniversityNordic Research Center for Wellbeing and Social Sustainability, Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, NTNUAbstract Background Individuals with social, mental health and/or addiction issues often face significant barriers to accessing, maintaining, and re-entering education or employment. Exclusion from these domains is linked to feelings of marginalization, hopelessness, and a reduced sense of significance. Methods In our study, following the phenomenological reflexive lifeworld research approach, we conducted 11 interviews with young people facing social, mental health and/or addiction issues, who have experienced being out of school and work. The aim was to explore the potential of art-based vocational rehabilitation (ABVR) from the perspective of young people. Results The essential meaning of ABVR can be understood as a starting point on a journey for young people with complex issues in becoming valued members of society. The essential meaning is further explicated through its five constituents: [1] experiencing a sense of belonging [2], building friendship [3], empowering through goal-oriented rehabilitation [4], developing authenticity, and [5] believing that one matters. Conclusions Participation in ABVR reshaped young people’s self-perceptions, their confidence in their abilities, and their sense of significance to others. Despite once living on the borders of society, they joined a community of like-minded peers, contributing value and feeling that they matter. Altogether, attending ABVR supported a sense of citizenship and mattering.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02597-0CitizenshipLifeworld researchMatteringPhenomenologyNEETYoung people
spellingShingle Kristin Berre Ørjasæter
Dina von Heimburg
Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare service
BMC Psychology
Citizenship
Lifeworld research
Mattering
Phenomenology
NEET
Young people
title Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare service
title_full Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare service
title_fullStr Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare service
title_full_unstemmed Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare service
title_short Becoming a valued member of society: the meaning of Art-Based vocational rehabilitation in the Norwegian labour and welfare service
title_sort becoming a valued member of society the meaning of art based vocational rehabilitation in the norwegian labour and welfare service
topic Citizenship
Lifeworld research
Mattering
Phenomenology
NEET
Young people
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02597-0
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