Dealing with career concerns in the contemporary scenario: the role of hope and intolerance of uncertainty

Purpose In the face of growing global concerns, this study examined how major career-related concerns – specifically those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the climate emergency – interact with key psychological resources, namely hope and intolerance of uncertainty, in relation to young adults' life satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Following a person-centered approach, a latent profile analysis (stepwise procedure) was performed on data collected from 536 Italian young adults aged 19–30 years. Findings Four distinct profiles emerged based on different levels of career concerns, hope, intolerance of uncertainty and life satisfaction. These ranged from a “High concern” profile characterized by high worry, low hope, high intolerance of uncertainty and low life satisfaction to a “Low concern” profile with low worry, high hope, low intolerance of uncertainty and high life satisfaction. Originality/value These findings underscore the importance of hope as a protective resource and intolerance of uncertainty as a risk factor for career development and well-being. The study contributes to the understanding of how young people's psychological resources and contextual challenges combine to shape diverse adjustment pathways during critical career transitions.