Nature and social connectedness as resources for well-being among young adults with and without migration backgrounds: A person-centered perspective

Emerging adulthood is a sensitive period in which well-being depends on the ability to manage social and environmental demands. This study examined how perceived stress, social connectedness, and nature connectedness co-occur with psychological well-being among young adults with and without a migration background. A cross-sectional sample of 225 participants aged 18 to 26 years from two Italian urban areas completed validated measures. Latent Profile Analysis with four continuous indicators identified the optimal number of subgroups, then multivariate comparisons and chi-square tests evaluated differences and associations with migration background. A two-profile solution provided the best fit. Profile 1, Lower Connectedness and Higher Stress, included 42.7 percent of participants and showed lower social and nature connectedness, higher perceived stress, and reduced well-being. Profile 2, Higher Connectedness and Lower Stress, included 57.3 percent of participants and showed the opposite configuration with greater well-being. Profiles differed significantly on all indicators, and migration background was unevenly distributed across profiles, with migrant participants overrepresented in the lower connectedness and higher stress subgroup. Findings indicate that social and nature connectedness jointly characterize adaptive functioning during emerging adulthood, and that disparities linked to migration background may reflect unequal opportunities to engage with supportive social and natural settings in urban contexts. Interventions that expand equitable access to social networks and restorative nature may help buffer stress and promote well-being in diverse youth populations.