The Role of Future Perspective and Socio-Emotional Skills in Driving Proactive Coping in Lebanese Emerging Adults

Lebanese emerging adults are currently navigating a “triple crisis” marked by socio-economic collapse, the aftermath of the Beirut explosion, ongoing post-pandemic instability, and recurring war tensions. Together, these conditions have contributed to a prolonged and uncertain transition to adulthood, often described as a state of “waithood.” While existing research has largely focused on the psychological distress associated with these conditions, less attention has been given to the internal mechanisms that may support adaptive functioning in such a context. This study examines the relationship between Future Time Perspective (FTP), Socio-Emotional Competencies (SECs), and Proactive Coping, drawing on Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST) as a theoretical framework. A sample of 135 participants, including university students and young professionals, completed a quantitative survey consisting of the Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI), the Future Time Perspective Scale (FTP), the Social and Emotional Competencies Questionnaire (SEC-Q), and the Developmental Crisis Questionnaire (DCQ-12). In addition to examining direct relationships between variables, the study explores how these associations differ depending on life stage, comparing individuals in a “locked-out” student phase with those in a “locked-in” professional phase. By focusing on internal resources rather than deficits, this research aims to better understand how emerging adults manage ongoing instability and maintain goal-directed behavior despite uncertainty.