Exploring The Impact of Unemployment on The Development of Young Adults.

Abstract

This paper aims to comprehensively examine the influences of unemployment in young adults, across developmental, psychosocial, and cognitive domains, analyzing both immediate individual consequences and the long-term effects on interpersonal relationships. The theoretical framework integrates two fundamental perspectives: Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Developmental Theory, which highlights the stage-specific challenges unemployment poses to identity formation and social integration, and Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which provides insights into how unemployment disrupts basic and higher-order need fulfilment. Our findings demonstrate that while unemployment's economic implications are readily apparent, its psychological impact is equally as important, as it can alter young adults' self-perception, social relationships, and developmental milestones. The research particularly highlights the significant role of cultural context in shaping unemployment experiences, some cultural environments provide a support system that encourages and motivates them, while others socially stigmatize and exclude the individuals, intensifying the psychological burden of joblessness. The thematic analysis method was adopted in the study to identify the impacts of unemployment in various domains that provided answers to the research questions. Ethical considerations were ensured in the study to ensure that participants were not harmed. The study reveals the effect of unemployment on psychological, and developmental domains including the social consequences that extend beyond individual outcomes to influence several spheres like family dynamics, social networks, and community relationships. These findings underscore the necessity of considering cultural and social contexts when developing interventions for unemployed young adults. Future research directions should explore the longitudinal implications of early-career unemployment, the adoption of effective coping mechanisms, and a culturally adapted support system to mitigate the negative impacts of unemployment.