Envisioning the Future in Times of Global Uncertainty: Latent Profiles of Societal Threat Perceptions and Future-Oriented Resources Among University Students

Young adults today are required to envision and plan for the future in a context marked by interconnected societal threats, such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and economic instability, giving rise to a condition of polycrisis. Understanding how these threats are perceived and their relationship with future-oriented psychological functioning is essential for promoting adaptive development during emerging adulthood. This study used a person-centered approach to identify different profiles of societal threat perception among university students and examine their links to social resources, future-oriented psychological resources, and well-being. The study involved a sample of 800 Italian university students. Latent profile analysis identified five distinct profiles. These profiles ranged from students who reported consistently low levels of perceived threat (Low Threat) to those characterized by elevated levels of threat across all domains (High Threat). Other profiles reflected specific concerns, such as heightened anxiety about climate change and war (Climate–War Concern), predominant financial threat concerns (Financially Focused Threat), and moderate threat perceptions combined with adaptive functioning (Moderate Threat). R3STEP analyses revealed that perceived social support and trust in institutions were significant predictors of profile membership. The lowest levels were observed among those with a High Threat profile. BCH analyses revealed significant differences in future orientation, meaning in life, and life satisfaction across profiles. Moderate Threat profile students reported the highest levels of future-oriented resources and well-being, whereas High Threat profile students reported the lowest. These findings suggest that university students differ in both the intensity of their societal threat perceptions and the configuration of these perceptions and their associated psychological resources. The results highlight the protective role of social and institutional resources, suggesting that adaptive functioning in times of global uncertainty depends less on the absence of concern and more on the capacity to maintain future-oriented psychological resources despite perceived threats.