Applying a Systems Approach to Explore Hope for the Future among Generation Z Adolescents in Iran: Implications for Social Policy

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Nafiseh Mahdizadeh ¹
• Hossein Akbari ¹
• Farzad Dehghanian ²

¹ Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

² Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering University, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/jstinp.2025.94174.1158

Abstract

Hope for the future is a complex and multidimensional concept. It plays a vital role in shaping adolescent well-being and influencing long-term societal development. This study uses a systems thinking approach to examine the dynamic factors that shape hope among Generation Z adolescents in Iran. By drawing on the six-step DAPS policy model and Snyder’s Hope Theory, the research seeks to go beyond traditional linear models. The study combines multiple data sources. It includes a systematic review of 78 academic articles, semi-structured interviews with 17 experts, and in-depth interviews with 25 adolescents aged 13 to 18. Through this mixed-methods approach, 91 key variables influencing hope were identified. These variables were then grouped into five major subsystems: (1) mental health and individual agency, (2) family and social ties, (3) policy and national development, (4) the education system and the role of teachers, and (5) digital transformation and media lifeworld.

Using cross-impact matrix analysis, the study mapped the dynamic relationships among these variables. It also identified reinforcing and balancing feedback loops within and between the subsystems. The final model conceptualizes hope as having two interdependent dimensions. The first is individual hope, which is built on a sense of purpose, agency, and psychological resilience. The second is social hope, shaped by justice, social security, development, and a sense of belonging. The findings reveal that dysfunction in any single subsystem—such as policy or family—can negatively affect the entire system, leading to a decline in hope. Policy recommendations emphasize the importance of systemic reforms. These include improving educational autonomy, addressing institutional corruption, strengthening the role of teachers and adolescents, and promoting cultural strategies to stabilize identity in the digital era. This study contributes to the theoretical development of hope research by integrating psychological and sociological perspectives within a systems-based framework.

Keywords

• Hope
• Generation Z
• Systems Thinking
• Adolescents
• Iran

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