Life satisfaction and mental ill-being of young Poles in times of uncertainty

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/2300-1690.29.02

Keywords:

life satisfaction, mental ill-being, young people, Poland, European Social Survey

Abstract

In recent years, Europe, and especially Central and Eastern Europe, has experienced events that have profoundly impacted its economy, labour market, security, social landscape, and public health. As the geopolitical and socio-economic landscape is subject to constant change, young people are among the most heavily impacted by these consequences. Unable to predict the future, they may be prompted to ask existential questions about the meaning of life, which are closely connected with issues of life satisfaction and mental health. Recent reports confirm this trend, showing that young Poles face significant mental health challenges, even despite conflicting data regarding their general life satisfaction.

This article aims to provide insights into the factors that may influence the life satisfaction and mental ill-being of young Poles, who are at the forefront of these changes. The analyses are based on representative data for Poland from the European Social Survey. To address the research questions and test the hypotheses, Complex Sample General Linear models were used. The results show that, in general, life satisfaction is associated with the degree of control respondents perceive they have over their lives, their mental health, and the social context in which they live. Social context is especially important for young Poles. While the importance of social context is also visible for mental ill-being, the pattern of association is different compared to that observed for life satisfaction. Furthermore, health-related predictors are more important, specifically for young people, than they were for life satisfaction.

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Author Biography

  • Jakub Krzysztof Adamski, University of Lodz

    Jakub Krzysztof Adamski – Assistant Professor, PhD in Social Sciences in the field of Sociology (awarded in 2019), has been working since 2019 at the Department of Social Research Methods and Techniques, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, Poland. In the same year, he also earned an MA in Law. Member of the European Social Survey team in Poland and of the Programme Council of the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of Lodz. He has published in journals such as Studia Migracyjne – Przegląd Polonijny, Władza sądzenia, and Italian Labour Law E-Journal, where he also held editorial roles. His daily work involves data analysis in IBM SPSS and R. His research interests focus primarily on survey methodology, quantitative data analysis, machine learning approaches, and secondary data analysis.
    Adiunkt, doktor nauk społecznych w zakresie socjologia (stopień uzyskany w 2019 roku), od 2019 roku pracuje w Katedrze Metod i Technik Badań Społecznych na Wydziale Ekonomiczno-Socjologicznym Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego. W tym samym roku uzyskał również tytuł magistra prawa. Jest członkiem zespołu realizującego Europejski Sondaż Społeczny w Polsce oraz Rady Programowej Centrum Studiów Migracyjnych Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego. Publikował m.in. w czasopismach takich jak „Studia Migracyjne – Przegląd Polonijny”, „Władza sądzenia” oraz „Italian Labour Law E-Journal”, gdzie pełnił także funkcje redakcyjne. Na co dzień zajmuje się analizą danych w programie IBM SPSS oraz R. Jego zainteresowania badawcze koncentrują się przede wszystkim na metodologii badań sondażowych, analizie danych ilościowych, zastosowaniach uczenia maszynowego oraz analizie danych wtórnych.

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Published

2025-12-12

Issue

No. 29 (2025): W poszukiwaniu sensu i tożsamości: rozwój duchowy, terapia i samorozwój w perspektywie indywidualnej i społecznej

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How to Cite

Krzysztof Adamski, Jakub. 2025. “Life Satisfaction and Mental Ill-Being of Young Poles in Times of Uncertainty”. Władza Sądzenia, no. 29 (December): 9-41. https://doi.org/10.18778/2300-1690.29.02.