Mental Health of the Polycrisis Generation

The goal of this observational, longitudinal study is to identify risk and protective factors that buffer the effects of individual daily stress and adaptation to global crises on the quality of life and mental health conditions of young people entering adulthood (aged 18-29, fluent in Polish, and living in Poland). Moderators such as factors related to development, personality variables compatible with the domains according to ICD-11, psychological resilience, closeness in relationships with a partner/friends/parents, and the level of postformal thinking will also be considered.

The main hypotheses it aims to consider are:

H1: Poorer adaptation to individual and global crises is associated with higher levels of perceived stress, leading to worse indicators of mental health and quality of life.

H2: A higher level of implementation of developmental tasks, including more fulfilled criteria of adulthood and a mature identity, mitigates the relationship between stress/ crisis adaptation and health and quality of life indicators.

H3: Resilience and better relationships (closeness with a partner/ friends/ parents) buffer the negative effect of stress on health and quality of life.

H4: A higher level of postformal thinking mitigates the relationship between stress/ crisis adaptation and health and quality of life indicators.

H5: A higher intensity of psychopathological personality traits is a risk factor that amplifies the negative effect of stress on health and quality of life.

Researchers will analyze measurements taken from the same group (a representative sample of Polish young adults) at two time points - now and in 12 months. The aim is to observe the extent to which the effects of current daily stressors and adaptation to the crisis, as well as the effects of potential moderators, are relatively stable.

Background: The WHO and other international organizations clearly indicate the co-occurrence of multiple health problems and an increasing trend in the deterioration of mental health among young people. This is related to the experience of cumulative stress, generally referred to as a 'polycrisis', which involves the simultaneous occurrence of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, displacements and trauma resulting from the war in Ukraine, and climate change.

An additional factor is the stress of daily life and everyday challenges. These latter seem particularly important during the period when an individual faces some of the greatest challenges, such as entering young adulthood and taking on adult roles. However, there is a lack of studies analyzing the risk factors and protective factors that buffer the impact of contemporary cumulative stress on the mental health of young adults in different cultures (including Polish).

Participants: a representative population of 600 Polish young adults, aged 18-29.

Methodology: Analysis of data collected through psychological scales and questionnaires related to daily stress, adaptation to global crises, mental health conditions, quality of life, meeting mature developmental criteria, personality traits, resilience, closeness in relationships, and postformal thinking.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age between 18 and 29 years
* Standard educational opportunities
* Polish fluent
* Polish nationality

Exclusion Criteria:

* Intellectual disability
* Inability to self-complete the research questionnaires