The Psychological Impact of Political Instability on Youth in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3456/tqkhdg17Keywords:
Political instability, youth psychology, mental health, stress, anxiety, depression, governance, longitudinal study.Abstract
Political instability has long been a defining characteristic of Pakistan’s socio-political landscape, leading to significant psychological consequences for its youth. This longitudinal study examines how political upheavals, economic crises, and governance failures affect the mental health, emotional well-being, and social behavior of young people in Pakistan. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study tracks changes in anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and political engagement among youth over a decade. The findings reveal a strong correlation between prolonged instability and increased stress levels, loss of trust in institutions, and a decline in civic participation. The study also explores coping mechanisms, such as social activism, migration aspirations, and resilience-building strategies, among Pakistani youth. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of how political uncertainty influences the psychological landscape of emerging generations and offer policy recommendations to mitigate these adverse effects.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Disclaimer: The International Research Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (IRJAHSS) upholds the principles of open access, ensuring unrestricted access to scholarly content to foster the sharing and advancement of knowledge. The opinions expressed in the articles solely belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the journal's editorial team, editorial board, advisory board or research institute.
