Psychology Congress 2027

Young people increasingly navigate future uncertainty shaped by academic and career pressures, global challenges, technological change, and evolving social expectations. This study explored future concerns, emotional expression, communication with adults and peers, and perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) among adolescent boys in the UAE. A cross-sectional survey included 220 participants aged 16–22, with descriptive comparisons between participants aged 16–18 (n=188) and 19–22 (n=32). Future concerns were prominent: 59.1% reported often thinking about their future, 79.5% were moderately or very aware of global challenges, and

72.6 % reported that these issues caused quite a bit or complete concern about their future. Emotional expression was also challenging, with 59.1% reporting discomfort or strong discomfort expressing emotions. Although friends were an important source of support, 33.6 % reported not sharing their feelings with anyone. Additionally, 80.9% indicated that adults did not always understand their future concerns, while 68.2% experienced judgment sometimes or all the time when sharing their thoughts. Among respondents answering the AI question, 53.7% reported that AI sometimes or always seemed to understand their concerns better than people. The findings highlight a communication gap between young people and adults and suggest that future uncertainty, emotional expression, peer support, and emerging AI interactions warrant further psychological investigation.

Amina Munawar Khan is a Psychology graduate, researcher, author, and wellbeing professional focused on adolescent emotional wellbeing and mental health education. She is the author of Girlhood Diaries, a book dedicated to helping adolescent girls understand emotions, self-awareness, and wellbeing. As the founder of MindStudio, she develops educational and wellbeing initiatives that promote emotional health and psychological awareness. Her professional work also includes contributing to wellbeing sessions for cancer patients, with a focus on emotional resilience and supportive self-care. Her research interests include adolescent psychology, behavioral science, emotional expression, and the evolving role of technology and artificial intelligence in wellbeing.