Abstract
As a young person visualizes all aspects of the future, three main themes will be introduced: biological, social, and psychological. This report reflects how these findings will provide a clear view of how each impacts their opinions in the future.
Introduction
Our caregivers instil our beliefs and values in us from the moment we open our eyes, and these impact how younger people envision their future because environmental and biological factors influence their views and dreams. Everyone’s upbringing differentiates from one another, creating their own mentality, which leads to a distinctive pathway. Two siblings can be brought up in the same household; however, they may end up at different points in life. Not having a nurturing household and having siblings can result in younger people growing up quicker than they should, as they take on the role of nursing them because they feel they need to protect them. This can pause how they envisage their future because they cannot think about themselves but must put those around them at the centre of their world. A younger figure can envisage their future in the sense of being able to help people, for example, by being a psychologist who relates to the trauma they have endured so that they can assist those in the same boat.
Psychological factors significantly influence the development of an individual’s brain, particularly when young, as these shape how they function. Growing up surrounded by abuse will take a mental toll, as witnessing traumatizing events or even experiencing them can change how a person thinks. An example of this can be growing up with parents who have an addiction, parents or family members who sexually, physically, or emotionally abuse their children or partners, etc. These types of events can either ensure a journey of consequences or aid in making a young adult have the desire to succeed in their future. Some children may come from lower-income households and have the mindset of not having much of a change in life as they either have no knowledge or see this as the final stage of how their life should be forever (Tara McNeil, 2023).
Being young adults, when asked the most common question, ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years?’ we would respond with similar answers, typically owning a house, a car, and making money. Social factors play a significant role in this as there can be pressure within society, which will once again affect the mentality of someone, being influenced by those around us as we want to fit in and not be seen as someone who is not worthy. Following the crowd is a standard action amongst young adults, mainly because they still have not found themselves and are slowly adjusting to life, although everyone has different personalities. A role model is essential in these cases, as it can help young people focus and stay on the right track to reach their potential. Many individuals at their young ages have a lot to offer. Unfortunately, some may not be able to use them to their full advantage. This can be due to making adverse decisions that hinder their development and education or being in a household that does not cater to their needs, which can deteriorate their performance. Some may not see education as necessary in their pathway and prefer to work; others have no choice but to work to provide for their families.
Psychological factors can steer towards behavioural changes that can influence their cognitive and social engagements; these include smoking or self-harming in different ways (National Institution of Health, 2020–2025). All factors dominate how someone’s life can be; it all depends on the younger individual’s choices. Events can take a turn as they grow, transforming their thinking each time.
Method
In order to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings, this study’s research methodology follows a strict process. The scope of research is founded on social learning theory and ecological systems theory, which offers a structured theoretical background to the interconnections between the everyday lives of individuals and broader social and environmental factors. These viewpoints are the basis of the research on the impact of young people’s biological, social, and psychological spectrum on their future views.
Ethical considerations were critically crucial at every step of the research process. Institutional review board approval had been acquired to ascertain that all ethical standards were met, such as getting consent from the people participating, safeguarding their anonymity, and reducing the potential dangers. Ethical behaviour occurred at each step of the study to ensure the safety and protection of the volunteer’s rights.
Participants were chosen through purposive sampling to have a range in age, cultural identity, and socioeconomic status. With that method, the participants, who had different points of view and experiences, were invited to be part of the research. The introduction of additional information breadth and length factors boosted our data-gathering process. The primary purpose of this study was to decide on the criteria that should be used to predict the mental health of young adults in the future. Therefore, we selected young people from 18 to 25 years old to get an idea of their future outlook from the perspective of biological, social and psychological well-being.
Data collection targeted at gaining participants’ points of view was implemented through essay prompting, requiring them to articulate their thoughts about the future. The essay questions were constructed to get complete and vivid responses, and then one would express their thoughts and feelings as they were then. Instructions were well elaborated for participants, who had enough time to complete their responses.
The thematic analysis served as the explanatory strategy during the analysis of the interviews. Such a strategy has been done through methodic encoding, outlining the recurring patterns and themes, and interpreting the data in the context of the research goals. Measures like peer debriefing and member checking were implemented to fortify the trustworthiness and credibility of the analysis, thus ensuring the research study’s findings remained strong.
Findings
The thematic analysis of the data revealed three main themes: genetics, social life stresses, and psychological strengths.
Biological Influences
The interviewees said that their childhood and the social and psychological atmosphere of the family, in particular, were the factors they took into account when making professional goals. It can be observed that people who have been through traumas and problems when they were young displayed interest in their lives and were ready to fight each step along the way (Mitina et al., 2020). On the other hand, some fellows even felt limited by the conditions that they were under, especially when they lacked the incredible power of family support and resources not acquired by them. “For example, one participant recounted, “Growing up in a household with substance abuse made me realize the importance of breaking the cycle and creating a better future for myself and my family.”
Social Pressures
The subjects talked about their goals before real people and about the impact of societal expectations and norms on the goals. Many felt they had to attend to conventional milestones regardless of commitment level (homeownership and financial stability). However, they need more clarity about their future, and only some want to. Social comparisons and sharing the desire to belong and be accepted were common threads among participants. One participant said, ” I am always comparing myself to others, especially on social media. It’s hard not to feel inadequate when everyone seems to have their life together except for me.”
Psychological Resilience
Amid all the adversities, some participants learned to stand up and find different ways to look at life. These men accentuated the importance of self-governance and autonomy as the determining factors leading to their achievements. Nevertheless, some of them faced trauma issues and used illegal drugs or self-injury to cope, which have damaged their lives over time. “I know that I certainly hold all the power in the world to raise myself up in every situation even when it seems I can’t anymore “. This was a participant’s statement. The content analysis revealed that the biological, psychological, and social factors intermingle and significantly affect how youth look at their future. As a result, the demonstrated complexity of youth development is shown, and the necessity of assisting individuals facing difficulties becomes open. Accordingly, the investigation can be extended to consider the historical context and culture contributing to this topic.
Discussion
The results of the study expose the complicated link between biological, societal and psychological facets in one’s formulation of their future goals. These topics are not an exhaustive list, but they cut across known literature, highlighting the complex factors shaping our unique paths. The proceeding discussion will advance the core findings, which will be by the research question. Then, the discussion will broaden to the analysis of the findings, the implications, and the extent of their agreement with the existing literature.
Through the results, it has been seen that the perspective of young adults plays a vital role in future life prediction. The role of social, psychological, and biological factors in their lives was a significant enemy to their goals. Both biological factors are underlined by early-life experiences, such as coming from a resilient family, a cornerstone for success in battle against obstacles (Mishra & Padalia, 2021). Societal expectations and peer norms were put up against social pressures, creating a neutral atmosphere where being different is not welcomed. Hence, these people conform to traditional milestone rituals. Furthermore, subjective life adaptation rose as a fundamental concept as the participants manifested their different levels of optimism, ranging from low to high, in dealing with their new lives.
The observations made after the analysis go deeper and point to the believed intricacies within each theme that also reflect the uncertainty associated with youth growth. For example, in certain situations, some participants showed psychological resilience. In contrast, others endured problems with their psychological well-being with negative tendencies, so the lessons to be learned for such negative situations were identifying, targeting and assisting vulnerable populations to protect their well-being. Furthermore, social influences loomed larger for specific scenarios, wherein some relevant participants felt proud to handle societal norms and other dominant ones were overwhelmed by them (Weiss, 2022).
The research findings align with existing studies on youth development that explore the multidimensional complexity between individual features and environmental factors that together shape the course of one’s future. The session also notes the weaknesses of the study, such as participant recruitment bias and the subjective analysis of qualitative data. The following research project concerns historical observations and cultural factors that influence youth’s future orientations from a detailed perspective.
In conclusion, the study’s findings imply that researchers should consider issues of biological, social, and psychological nature while studying the images of the future of youth. The study facilitates an understanding of the complicated nature of adolescence. Thus, it supports the ongoing moves to guarantee an excellent quality of life and resilience for the kids as they transition to adulthood.
References
Mishra, A. K., & Padalia, D. (2021). Re-envisioning psychology: A critical history of psychology in India. Psychology in modern India: Historical, methodological, and future perspectives, 163-201.
Mitina, M., Young, S., & Zhavoronkov, A. (2020). Psychological aging, depression, and well-being. Aging (Albany NY), 12(18), 18765.
O’Connor, D. B., Aggleton, J. P., Chakrabarti, B., Cooper, C. L., Creswell, C., Dunsmuir, S., … & Armitage, C. J. (2020). Research priorities for the COVID‐19 pandemic and beyond A call to action for psychological science. British Journal of Psychology, 111(4), 603–629.
Weiss, M., Weiss, D., & Zacher, H. (2022). All set in stone? How essentialist beliefs about ageing affect older workers’ motivation to continue working beyond retirement age. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 43(8), 1446-1461.
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