Adolescence is an evolutionary phase that is characterised, among other factors, by the search for identity and autonomy. Traditionally, this period ended when the adult age began (currently, at the age of 18 years). However, nowadays a delay in the acquisition of adult roles is occurring – from securing a stable job to forming a family – which has caused the emergence of a new phase, termed emerging adulthood. This phase, which embraces from 18 to 29 years, possesses its own characteristics, notably including feeling halfway between adolescence and adulthood, instability, and the search for an own identity. 

Adolescents and young people are faced with a complex society undergoing constant change that does not always know how to respond to their needs. These characteristics of our society contribute to both periods being especially vulnerable to the appearance of mental health problems, as shown by high levels of psychological ill-being, with impactful suicide rates in these phases of life: according to data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), in 2022 a total of 316 young people aged between 15 and 29 died by suicide. However, mental health is not characterised only by the absence of illnesses or disorders; another view also exists, complementary to the more traditional one, which defends a competences-based mental health. Thus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

In this study, the levels of well-being and psychological ill-being of young people aged between 16 and 29 years and resident in Spain are explored, focusing attention on needs that stand out as promoters of their well-being. To achieve this aim, data have been collected through a survey conducted among 3,003 young people resident in Spain, who meet the criteria for representativity of gender, age (16-18, 19-24, and 25-29 years) and autonomous community. 

The term flourishing is used to describe a person who possesses high levels of well-being and mental health; specifically, it refers to the combination of feeling well (hedonic well-being) and functioning effectively (eudemonic well-being). 

Levels of flourishing among young people in Spain are considered high and differences do not exist between females and males. As age progresses, the level of flourishing increases significantly; especially, the older young people (25-29 years) present levels of flourishing that substantially exceed the levels of the other two age groups (16-18 years and 19-24 years). 

With respect to the financial situation, it is observed that levels of flourishing increase as economic level increases. If gender is taken into account, it is noted that this increase is very obvious among females, while among males higher levels of flourishing are only observed when they have a high economic level; in other words, no differences exist between levels of flourishing among males of a low and medium economic level.

In the study, young people were asked to what point they felt themselves to be competent in friendship, family, and partner relationships; in the academic, professional, and sporting spheres, and with respect to their physical appearance. Although, in general, a feeling of medium competence was observed, when comparing by gender it was noted that females felt significantly more competent in partner relationships, and males in the professional sphere, in physical appearance and, very especially, in sports. In the rest of the competences, the differences are not statistically significant.

With regard to age, it is confirmed that young people of both sexes aged 16 to 18 years are the ones who feel least competent in family relationships and in the academic sphere. On the one hand, during adolescence, family conflicts increase; on the other, the search for an own identify and a greater need to be with peers are factors that may explain, in part, this result. The perception of competence in partner relationships and professional competence are acquired with age. For this reason, the 25 to 29 years group feel more competent in these two areas than the 19 to 24 group, and the latter more than the 16 to 18 group.

As for the economic situation, people with a low economic situation feel less competent in all spheres than those who enjoy a medium or high economic situation.

Optimism regarding the future offers a clear image of how young people perceive their tomorrow. To find out about this, they were asked to what point they felt optimistic with regard to their own future and to that of their generation. 
The level of optimism among young people is moderate, with them being less optimistic when they think about the general future for their generation than when they think about their own personal future. Thus, on a scale from 1 to 10, they show an average of optimism of 6.52 with respect to their own future and of 6.05 with respect to people of their age. When asked about their personal future, males are more optimistic than females, but no differences exist between males and females with regard to the future of their generation.

It is interesting to observe how, according to age group, the two questions are answered inversely. When the question refers to their own personal future, the youngest people (aged between 16 and 18 years) are more optimistic than their elders. However, when referring to the general future of their generation, the tendency is inverted, and adolescents show less optimism than people older than them.

Their economic situation has a close relationship with the optimism of young people: the higher their income level, the higher the optimism, with respect to both their personal future and to that of their generation. 

According to the WHO, emotional problems – such as depression, anxiety, or stress – are among the main health problems worldwide. In Spain, the mental health of young people has deteriorated in recent years, and the covid-19 pandemic accentuated this deterioration.

The average rates of ill-being among young people in this study are considered moderate, given that the scores exceed the threshold of normality, although without reaching a point of severity. If the data from each of the ill-being scales are carefully analysed, it is observed that 35.5% of the sample do not present depressive symptoms, versus 42.3%, who present moderate levels of depression, and 22.2%, with serious levels of depression. In the case of anxiety, 33.2% of young people have no anxious symptoms, versus 25.4% with moderate anxiety and 41.4% with severe anxiety. With respect to stress, 42.2% of young people of both sexes do not present stress, while 35.7% present moderate stress and 22.1% severe stress. 

As regards gender, females present considerably higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress than males, but tendencies vary with age. In the case of females, scores for depression, anxiety, and stress decrease with age, whereas among males, they increase. In any case, females have higher scores across all ages.

When comparing the psychological ill-being of young people of both sexes according to their economic situation, it is observed that levels of ill-being increase in people whose economic situation is not very favourable, so that those with a low economic level present higher scores in depression, anxiety, and stress than those who enjoy a medium or high economic level.

In this study, young people were asked what needs had to be satisfied for them to feel well at the present time; they could respond freely and with as many answers as necessary. The first need identified was health (30.2%). The majority of the answers alluded to mental health, which shows that its absence is one of the main concerns currently. Among the answers, it is worth citing, for example, “Peace of mind and being well emotionally”, “Feeling good about myself”, or “Less anxiety”. The second need was their finances (27.4%). This category included answers such as “Financial stability”, “A better financial situation”, or “Money to buy items that make my life easier”. Closely related with finances, although without explicitly naming money, 12.10% of respondents identified questions related with work, such as “Holding down or getting a better job”. The third need was social relations (19.5%). Family relations were the ones indicated most frequently (12.9%), followed by relations with friends (9.7%) and with partners (5.2%). Some answers were: “For my family to be happy and for there to always be a good mood at home”; “My family and friends are a strong pillar in my life”, and “Being relaxed with my partner”.

Finally, other needs identified referred to possessing universal human values (8.9%, “Loyalty”); progressing in one’s studies (7.5%, “Good marks on my course”), or achieving personal challenges (6.4%, “Finding something that I love doing”).

When young people were asked how society can contribute towards improving their well-being, the majority (37.2%) responded by referring to topics related with social values, such as living in a society with greater equality, tolerance, or freedom. After social values, the next aspect that they mentioned most was finances (21.4%). Within finances, it is worth distinguishing employment (12.2%) and financial stability (9.2%). Young people believe that society would contribute to their well-being by creating more employment opportunities, improving their working conditions, not increasing prices of basic items, such as food, housing, or electricity, and reducing prices so that they are more in line with their possibilities. 

In a more minority way, but also present in the answers, is the need for society to change its politics and its politicians (5.1%), and for health and education (4.2% and 3.2%, respectively) to improve. Moreover, it is striking that 26.5% of young people of both sexes answered that they do not believe that society can do anything to improve their level of well-being. This data probably reflects today’s young people’s lack of confidence in society, as well as a feeling of learned helplessness; in other words, young people “have learned” to behave passively in the face of social problems. Both characteristics – lack of confidence and helplessness – disempower young people, leaving them without tools to believe in their strength and capacity to try to improve their social, political, economic, or psychological situation. 

This research was born with the aim of finding out the levels of well-being and psychological ill-being among adolescents and young people in Spain, but also to provide some keys to understanding their needs. The results obtained show that, in general, their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress exceed the normality threshold, reaching severe levels in a significant percentage of cases. However, they also present high levels of flourishing, and moderate optimism about their own personal future, although, curiously, this darkens when they think about the general future for their generation. The results have been categorical in relation to socioeconomic level, reflecting a more negative scenario as this decreases. The differences observed between males and females were in favour of the former, who present less symptomology of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as greater optimism.

Adolescence has shown itself to be an especially difficult phase, with females and males feeling less flourishing, a lesser feeling of competence and less optimism with respect to the future of their generation. Adolescents and young people have underlined their needs for health, specifically mental health, financial resources, and satisfactory social relations, and they have provided indications of the principles that should guide interventions at these ages. Adolescence and youth are phases of vulnerability, but also of numerous opportunities. As a society, we have the responsibility of accompanying adolescents and young people, of strengthening their individual protection factors, and of creating fairer social conditions that allow them to achieve optimum and comprehensive development and to look towards the future with optimism and enthusiasm.

The sample selected for this study included people of different ages, genders, and from all of Spain’s autonomous communities. Although it was considered that the size of the sample was sufficient to be able to analyse the data of practically all the dimensions studied, it was not sufficient to be able to make comparisons between autonomous communities. For this reason, this article has not described the differences between the different autonomous communities and no conclusions in this regard could be extracted.

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