Youth Transitions: Implications, Challenges, and Opportunities

Dear Colleagues:

Youth studies have long been a subject of interest in social sciences, anthropology, and education. However, the existing literature on youth has been characterized by a lack of interaction between different cultural and linguistic contexts, leading to fragmented paradigms. In recent decades, the transition to adulthood has undergone significant changes due to the neoliberal globalized model, resulting in increased uncertainty and individual responsibility. To gain a better understanding of these transformations and their implications, this Special Issue aims to explore the transition to adulthood in the context of the neoliberal globalized era.

We invite researchers and scholars from various disciplines to contribute to this Special Issue by submitting original research papers, theoretical perspectives, and critical analyses. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary approaches that shed light on the broader social, economic, and cultural implications of the transition to adulthood in the neoliberal globalized era. Possible topics for submission include, but are not limited to:

• Theoretical frameworks and conceptualizations of the transition to adulthood in the neoliberal globalized era.
• Social, economic, and political factors influencing the transition to adulthood.
• Impact of neoliberal policies on young people's experiences of transitioning to adulthood.
• Role of education, work, and family in the transition to adulthood.
• Diversification of individual trajectories and the de-standardization of social itineraries.
• Youth unemployment, precarity, and the changing nature of work in the neoliberal globalized era.
• Social justice, inequality, and the challenges faced by marginalized youth.
• Intersectionality and marginalized youth in the context of neoliberalism.
• Critical analyses of youth policies and their implications for social inclusion.
• The role of youth organizations and civil society in supporting young people's transitions.
• Youth agency, identity formation, and social networks in the neoliberal globalized era.
• Ethical considerations and alternative perspectives on youth development and care services.
• Comparative studies on youth transitions across different cultural and national contexts.
• Psychosocial factors in youth transition and socialization.
• Methodological approaches and challenges in studying youth transitions in the neoliberal era.

In this Special Issue, contributions may be papers, articles, conceptual papers, or reviews and must address the presented topic.

References:

Barroso-Hurtado, D.; Guerrero-Puerta, L.M.; Torres Sánchez, M. Workshop Schools: From Employment Creation to Employability. Soc. Sci. 2022, 11, 446. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11100446

Guerrero Puerta, L. A Review of Evolving Paradigms in Youth Studies. Societies 2023, 13, 136. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13060136

Guerrero-Puerta, L.M.; Guerrero, M.A. Exploring the Relationship between Early Leaving of Education and Training and Mental Health among Youth in Spain. Societies 2023, 13, 103. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13050103

Tikkanen, J; Barroso-Hurtado, D and Guerrero-Puerta, L. Increasingly Demanding, Risky, and De-Standardised—Young People in Western Countries Coping with Life Course Transitions in The Midst of Societal Changes. RYOT Working paper on the Life Course. Zenodo 2021. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4719820

Dr. Laura M. Guerrero Puerta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• youth
• transition to adulthood
• precarity
• social justice
• marginalized youth
• comparative studies
• policies on youth