Psychosocial Correlates of Social Problem-Solving and Empathy Among Youth in Fifteen Muslim Societies

This article is based on a study that surveyed youth in Muslim-majority societies to investigate the competencies that support youths’ problem-solving skills and empathy. More specifically, it aims to examine attitudes towards psychosocial skills, including self-regulation, forgiveness, religiosity/spirituality, collective orientation, social problem solving, and empathy. The survey focused on youth (N = 15,790) in secondary and higher education (ages 18 and under and 18–24) from 15 Muslim-majority societies. The 2020–2021 survey findings reveal that age, gender, and group differences significantly affect collectivistic orientation, self-regulation, and problem-solving. Additionally, the results support the hypothesis that all variables except forgiveness predict empathy and problem-solving among Muslim youth. By including skills essential to modern life, such as empathy and problem-solving, and by exploring their roles in youth development and social interactions, the study highlights social and cultural attitudes toward these psychosocial, personal, and interpersonal skills, especially among youth in Muslim societies.