Science & Society – when the outside world shapes mental health on the inside

The Science & Society category brings together content on how social, technological, cultural, and economic changes influence mental health. Here, the focus is on themes such as youth, school, work, social media, productivity, inequality, and performance culture – always grounded in research and responsible psychology. The idea is to connect what happens “out there” – in classrooms, companies, news feeds, and public debates – with what each person feels “in here,” in the form of anxiety, pressure, belonging, or loneliness.

Youth, school, and mental health

During adolescence and early adulthood, the brain is still developing and is therefore more sensitive to pressure around academic performance, career choices, and social comparison. In this context, experiences such as bullying, exclusion, identity crises, or learning difficulties can have an amplified effect on self‑esteem, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms. The articles in this category help make sense of these transitions and highlight warning signs that are often mislabeled as “laziness,” “rebellion,” or “lack of focus,” offering guidance both for young people and for the adults who live and work with them.

Social media, technology, and well‑being

Heavy use of social media and connected devices can offer support, a sense of community, and quick access to information – but it can also increase the risk of anxiety, low self‑esteem, sleep problems, and problematic screen use, especially among teenagers and young adults. Constant comparison with idealized bodies and lives, the search for validation through likes, and exposure to cyberbullying are among the factors most closely linked to emotional distress. At the same time, when used consciously, digital platforms can promote awareness campaigns, mental‑health support networks, and high‑quality psychoeducational content. This category helps differentiate risks and possibilities, offering ideas for digital hygiene and a more intentional relationship with technology.

What you will find in this category

In this category, you will find articles on:

  • The impact of school, college, and the job market on the mental health of teenagers, young adults, and adults.
  • Positive and negative effects of social media, online gaming, and other technologies on emotional well‑being.
  • Science‑and‑society concepts applied to mental health, such as productivity pressure, inequality, performance culture, and generational changes.
  • Practical strategies for families, educators, managers, and young people to deal with screen limits, sleep, studying, relationships, and difficult conversations about mental health.

Across all texts, the goal is to translate current research and debates into accessible language, with concrete examples from everyday life in schools, homes, workplaces, and digital spaces.

How to use this category and related pillars

To start, a good way to navigate this category is to read the content that explains, in broad strokes, how youth, social media, work, and social context relate to mental health. If you want an even more structured view, you can explore the thematic pillars that are directly connected to Science & Society, such as:

At the end of each article, you will find suggestions for reading in other pillars – for example, those focusing on mental disorders or on relationships and community – so you can connect the broader social context with symptoms, relationships, and everyday choices, and understand how what happens in schools, on social networks, at work, and in the news can be reflected in each person’s mental health.