Social Sciences

The latest research and expert perspectives suggest that the quest for life’s meaning should not be treated as a puzzle to solve, but instead as an ongoing practice to engage with uncertainty, difficulty, and change. This reframing could be crucial for Thais navigating life transitions—whether it’s a recent graduate adjusting to post-academic life, a retiree redefining purpose, or anyone feeling lost after losing familiar routines. According to leading behavioral scientists, the path to meaning is not linear or formulaic, but deeply connected to our ability to adapt, reflect, and build coherence from ever-changing experiences (Big Think).

A staggering 97% of young people aged 16–29 in the European Union now use the internet daily, according to the latest statistics released by Eurostat in July 2025. This near-universal connectivity among EU youths—an increase from 87% just a decade ago—carries important lessons for developing digital literacy and inclusivity in Thailand, where similar trends are emerging but at different rates and with different challenges. The findings reflect both how deeply digital technology has become embedded in young Europeans’ lives and how the gap between youth and the broader population is narrowing, raising questions about digital readiness in the wider Thai community as the kingdom embraces its own digital transformation.

In recent years, the phrase “go touch grass” has gone viral on social media platforms, evolving from Gen Z’s favorite online insult into an unexpectedly effective piece of wellness advice. What began as a tongue-in-cheek way to tell someone to step away from digital disputes and reclaim perspective now carries new weight, as scientists worldwide have increasingly found that reconnecting with the natural world can significantly combat the effects of modern burnout and mental fatigue (VegOutMag).

A new study has confirmed the suspicions of many young job seekers: Gen Z graduates are entering a job market far harsher than the one faced by their millennial predecessors. According to Kickresume, 58% of graduates in the past year are still searching for their first job, nearly twice the rate seen among millennials and Gen X at the beginning of their careers. The challenges are so severe that only 12% of recent graduates have secured a full-time position by the time they leave university—one-third the proportion seen in prior generations. This shift marks a fundamental break from the age-old assumption that a college degree guarantees a career path, and its ripple effects are being felt globally, including in Thailand, where young people are also facing rising uncertainty about their economic futures (Fortune).

Thailand, like many countries across the globe, is entering a demographic era that will reshape its society, economy, and healthcare system: the age of the rapidly aging population. Recent analysis from financial institution Goldman Sachs, as summarized in the article “The Surprising Implications of an Aging Population” (goldmansachs.com), illustrates the far-reaching consequences of this trend—not just for industrialized economies, but also for fast-developing nations like Thailand.

The essence of this news lies in the profound societal changes sparked by longer lifespans and falling birth rates. Demographers and economists warn that, while increasing longevity is a triumph for public health, it introduces new challenges that affect economic growth, labor markets, public finances, and healthcare provision. In Thailand, policymakers, university researchers, and public health officials are already grappling with these questions, seeking strategies to care for a swelling cohort of older adults without stalling the country’s development.

The global decline in birth rates, long framed in terms of morality and cultural anxieties by right-wing commentators, is being recast by recent research as a problem rooted overwhelmingly in financial insecurity and systemic economic barriers. According to a groundbreaking United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) survey, the majority of people worldwide—including Thais—are having fewer children than they desire, primarily because of economic limitations, rather than a loss of interest in family or cultural shifts decried by conservative voices. This pushback comes amid rising alarmism in Western media declaring a “birth-rate crisis” with disastrous economic and social consequences if not urgently addressed.

A groundbreaking study has shed new light on the profound challenges faced by autistic adults as they navigate the often-overwhelming maze of non-verbal social cues, calling attention to a daily reality that remains poorly understood by much of society. The research, published in PLOS ONE and conducted by a neurodiverse team from the University of Portsmouth and international collaborators, found that decoding facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, and eye contact can feel like “just too much going on” for many adults on the autism spectrum, leading to misunderstandings, social anxiety, and a reduced quality of life (medicalxpress.com).

The global narrative around aging has long been dominated by fears of a looming crisis: a “demographic time bomb” set to overwhelm economies as swelling ranks of elderly dependents outpace shrinking workforces. However, new research from Goldman Sachs challenges this view, suggesting that longer and healthier lifespans may bring more positive outcomes than commonly believed. These insights carry significant implications for Thailand, a nation perched on the threshold of becoming a “super-aged” society within the next decade.

Scientists have unlocked a universal code to what it means to be “cool”—and it turns out, these qualities transcend cultural boundaries. According to groundbreaking research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, people around the world, from the United States to China, Nigeria to Germany, consistently identify a set of six core personality traits that define the elusive concept of “coolness.” The findings are reshaping our understanding of how global media, social trends, and cultural exchange converge to create modern social archetypes, with important implications for Thailand’s own youth, education, and cultural landscape.

A recent nationwide study ranking America’s most and least educated metropolitan areas has revealed that several Texas cities are near the bottom of the list, underscoring growing concerns about regional educational disparities. Compiled by personal finance website WalletHub, the 2025 report compared the 150 largest U.S. metropolitan areas based on educational attainment and the quality of education, with four Texas metros ranking among the bottom 11 and one Texas city, Austin, placing prominently among America’s best-educated urban centers.

A growing body of psychological research is helping decode the subtle yet significant behaviors that indicate deep-seated insecurity—often lurking beneath a surface of confidence or apparent indifference. According to a recent evidence-backed report, eight telltale signs can signal when someone is grappling with insecurity without even realizing it—a finding that holds implications not only for personal wellbeing but also for Thai workplaces, schools, and families.

Insecurity, as described by psychologists, refers to a persistent sense of inadequacy that unconsciously guides thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In Thailand, where the value of “face” and social harmony often shape daily interactions, these hidden patterns may take on distinctive forms and consequences. Many individuals believe they are merely being themselves, but their repeated ways of reacting to feedback, comparison, relationships, or praise can reflect a deeper struggle for self-worth.

The world’s rapidly declining birth rates have ignited a cultural, political, and economic debate that has reached new prominence in 2025. Concerns surrounding fertility decline, its impacts on social structures, and emerging “pronatalist” movements—those actively promoting higher birth rates—have transitioned from quieter academic discussions to mainstream headlines in Thailand and beyond. The issue isn’t simply statistical: it touches on the future of economies, generational care, cultural norms, and even environmental discussions, prompting stakeholders across the globe to rethink whether “more babies” is the solution to looming demographic challenges.

A newly published analysis in The Economist revisits the decades-long debate on whether being bilingual actually benefits the brain, challenging long-held assumptions while highlighting persistent scientific uncertainty. With Thailand’s education system increasingly promoting English and Mandarin alongside Thai, the study’s findings carry particular weight for Thai families, educators, and policymakers contemplating the cognitive worth of learning an additional language.

For years, researchers have claimed that speaking two or more languages confers a host of cognitive advantages beyond mere linguistic prowess. In addition to opening doors to different cultural and professional opportunities, multilingualism has frequently been linked to improvements in “executive function”—an umbrella term covering skills like ignoring distractions, planning complex tasks, and adjusting one’s thinking as circumstances change. Widespread media coverage and popular science books have further fuelled the belief that bilingualism may even delay dementia, with some research suggesting bilinguals can experience the onset of dementia as much as four years later than monolinguals (The Economist).

A groundbreaking study from the University of Bath’s School of Management has provided fresh insight into why individuals with higher IQs consistently make better decisions, linking superior intelligence to more accurate life predictions and improved outcomes. The research, recently published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, demonstrates that cognitive ability not only affects academic and professional achievement, but also underpins day-to-day decision-making—from financial planning to health choices. For Thai readers, the study’s findings offer critical implications for education, public health communication, and social policy.

Recent research highlights a global shift: with the average human lifespan rising rapidly, younger generations are poised to experience profoundly different careers, family lives, and retirement than any generation before. According to a new analysis shared by ROAR Forward and featured in a US media report, life expectancy in developed nations has ballooned from 62 years a century ago to approximately 80 today, with experts forecasting over 20 million centenarians worldwide by 2100. This longevity revolution is sending ripple effects across societies—and nowhere are those effects more relevant than in rapidly aging Asian nations like Thailand.

A sweeping new study by Pew Research Center finds that the United States stands out for its high religious identity and spiritual beliefs compared to other wealthy nations, revealing patterns that illuminate both global diversity and unique features of American private faith.

For Thai readers keen to understand both their position in a changing world and evolving global values, this research sheds light on how different societies experience religion and spirituality in daily life. With the survey encompassing 36 countries representing nearly half the world’s population, Thailand gains insight into international religious and spiritual trends that may shape local views, policy, and social debate.

A new wave of research on effective parenting sheds light on an issue as old as parenthood itself: why children refuse to listen. A recent report by a leading expert in conscious parenting, published by CNBC on June 22, 2025, argues that the root cause may be far more subtle than outright rebellion — rooted instead in the very language adults use when communicating with young people (CNBC).

For Thai parents — and educators and caregivers — the findings underscore the importance of respectful, emotionally intelligent communication in nurturing the next generation. With research based on over 200 parent-child relationships, the core message is clear: common ’toxic’ phrases, while often habitual, tend to trigger defensiveness and lower cooperation among children. The study promotes a shift in parental language, advocating for phrases that foster autonomy and emotional validation rather than compliance born out of fear or shame.

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Missouri has found that hope, not happiness or gratitude, is the key emotional force underpinning a sense of meaning in life. This discovery challenges widely held beliefs about the drivers of well-being and suggests far-reaching implications for mental health and resilience, both globally and here in Thailand.

Traditionally, happiness and gratitude have been at the centre of discussions on how to lead a good and satisfying life. Thai society, with its deep reverence for “sanuk” (enjoyment) and frequent encouragement of “kreng jai” (gratitude and social harmony), echoes these themes. However, the latest research reveals that while these feelings are valuable, it is hope—the forward-looking expectation that things can improve—that gives life its deepest sense of purpose and direction (Earth.com; Show Me Mizzou).

A striking new study published in PNAS has mapped where people with so-called “dark” personality traits—such as psychopathy, narcissism, and everyday sadism—are most likely to reside, linking these traits to broader social conditions such as poverty, inequality, and violence. The findings, drawn from multiple datasets and encompassing 1.8 million individuals across 183 countries and 144,000 participants in the United States, offer new insights into how environment and society can shape individual psychology (NewsNationNow).

A new archaeological study has shaken up what we thought we knew about ancient Roman dining, revealing that the “fast food” culture of the empire went well beyond bread and olives. Recent excavations in Spain have shown that ordinary Romans, not just the elite, frequently enjoyed fried songbirds—especially thrushes—at bustling roadside eateries, according to a study in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (The Independent).

The finding comes from a detailed analysis of ancient animal bones excavated from a cesspit in the city of Pollentia on Mallorca, dating to the period spanning the first century BC to the first century AD. Archaeologists uncovered the remains of mammals, fish, reptiles, and, most notably, a significant number of small thrush bones discarded at the site of a commercial district. These culinary scraps provide a surprisingly intimate glimpse into the eating habits of Roman commoners and challenge the notion that such delicacies were reserved solely for the wealthy.

A sweeping new global study shows that people living in societies plagued by corruption, inequality, poverty, and violence are significantly more likely to develop what psychologists term “dark” personality traits, including psychopathy, narcissism, and machiavellianism—a finding with profound implications for social policy and Thai society. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, analyzing data from nearly 2 million individuals across 183 countries, report that social adversity is a strong predictor of psychological tendencies towards selfishness, aggression, and exploitation, raising key questions about how governance and environment shape the character of entire populations (Phys.org, news.ku.dk).

The latest global rankings of the most educated countries, released by CBRE Research and widely reported in international media, have produced some unexpected results: the United States, long perceived as a leader, is now surpassed by several other nations, while Ireland emerges as the world’s top country for higher education attainment. Meanwhile, Thailand, although making strides in education, remains outside the top cohort, fueling discussions on the nation’s future competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-driven world [thinkstewartville.com][Visual Capitalist].

Simple daily activities—such as admiring a blooming flower, sharing a laugh with a friend, or even doing a quick act of kindness—can significantly improve emotional well-being and help people feel more in control of their happiness, according to a groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The findings, derived from an expansive multi-year project, suggest that micro-moments of joy may offer a surprisingly effective recipe for boosting mood and resilience, with particular promise for those facing social or financial difficulties.

A growing body of research suggests the simple act of worrying about what others think—now dubbed “FOPO” or Fear of People’s Opinions—is far more widespread than many believe, impacting individuals’ decision-making, behaviour, and well-being. FOPO, a term coined by psychologist Michael Gervais, is gaining global attention as experts, including therapists and mental health professionals, unpack how this subtle mindset is holding many back from living authentically—especially in collectivist societies such as Thailand, where community approval carries deep historical weight. The phenomenon, while present worldwide, takes on unique relevance in Thai society, which is traditionally anchored in the values of “face,” social harmony, and close-knit communities (HuffPost).