Young Adults in Times of Overlapping Social Crises: Dynamic Profiles of Mental Health and Crisis-Related Concerns Using Latent Transition Analysis

This study examines how individual, relational, and contextual resources relate to distinct emotional-response profiles and their change over time among young adults navigating simultaneous crises. Using a three-wave longitudinal survey of a representative sample of Polish young adults aged 18 to 30, the authors identify five distinct emotional-response profiles and find that most participants remained in the same profile across waves. Emotion-regulation difficulties and attachment anxiety are associated with higher levels of distress, while lower attachment avoidance, higher social support, place identity, and community engagement facilitate adaptive transitions toward profiles characterised by lower distress or recovery. The findings highlight the diverse and dynamic mental-health trajectories experienced during the polycrisis and suggest that interventions strengthening emotion-regulation skills, supportive relationships, and community connections can help young adults maintain or regain well-being amid ongoing societal challenges.