One key function of an adaptive identity is to provide a sense of continuity across time. Yet we still know little about how one’s view of the self relates to the process of creating and pursuing meaningful goals that give life direction and purpose.

 In the current project, we explore how different aspects of identity, such as exploration and commitment processes, identity content, and life narratives, are related to Life Projects and how this maps to well-being in young people in both South Africa and the Netherlands. We are particularly interested in how young adults navigate uncertainty while trying to build lives of purpose and meaning.

The project combines innovative quantitative and qualitative methods and examines the use of LLM to automate the coding of textual data. The project draws on expertise from multiple disciplines, including Developmental Psychology, Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Methodology and Statistics, and Information and Computing Sciences. By comparing findings across cultural contexts, we aim to identify both shared patterns and unique differences in how life projects develop and how they are shaped by one’s identity. Ultimately, our goal is to advance scientific understanding while informing interventions and policies that support young people in creating hopeful and sustainable futures.

• dr. Liselotte den Boer
• dr. Rik Huizinga

• Luzelle Naude