Understanding the Link Between Social Support Networks, Self‐Efficacy and Future Orientation During Emerging Adulthood: A Comparison of At‐Risk and Non‐at‐Risk Emerging Adults

ABSTRACT At‐risk emerging adults may be less inclined to invest in future goals, yet the mechanisms underlying their future orientation (FO) remain unclear. Therefore, this study examined how social support network attributes contribute to FO in at‐risk and non‐at‐risk emerging adults and the mediating role of self‐efficacy. Participants included 701 individuals: 230 at‐risk emerging adults from Yated , a national Israeli program, and 471 non‐at‐risk peers. Results indicated that compared to the non‐at‐risk group, at‐risk individuals exhibited significantly lower FO and social support, highlighting their vulnerability. Structural equation modelling confirmed self‐efficacy's mediating role between social support and FO, with differences across groups. Network size contributed to FO directly and indirectly in both groups, while support adequacy contributed to FO via self‐efficacy only in non‐at‐risk participants. These findings highlight that FO development involves an interrelated set of personal and contextual factors, drawing attention to potential deficits in at‐risk individuals' perceptions of support that may impede their FO. Interventions for at‐risk emerging adults should adopt a holistic approach that maps and enhances their social support networks while simultaneously developing their personal skills to effectively engage with and utilize these networks as resources for future development.