Growing Up in Challenging Times: Rethinking Youth Wellbeing Through Inclusive and Global Perspectives on Uncertainty, Resilience, and Prosociality

Adolescents and young adults are facing increasing mental health challenges, shaped by global societal shifts such as the climate crisis, poverty, conflict, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. These crises disrupt daily life and fuel uncertainty about the future in a life phase where expectations about the future increasingly influence identity and wellbeing. Experiences of such challenges are not equally distributed: youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are often more affected, both behaviorally and neurodevelopmentally. In this perspective, we argue that adolescence is a developmental window of both vulnerability and opportunity. We highlight the role of uncertainty and inequality as key mechanisms linking societal challenges to wellbeing. Importantly, we propose that inclusive prosocial engagement—opportunities for youth to contribute meaningfully to others—can foster resilience, identity development, and a sense of purpose. We propose that supporting adolescent wellbeing requires a developmentally informed, context-sensitive, and globally inclusive approach.