The puzzle of scientific progress: cultivating problem solvers.

Strict social distancing policies were enforced worldwide in the initial period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic []. These measures required individuals to minimize physical interactions and adopt an online-based lifestyle, and facilitated by rapid technological advancement and adaptation, this shift heralded the beginning of the post-pandemic era []. While the acceleration of technological progress has transformed academic and professional environments [], offering benefits such as improved work–life balance and satisfaction owing to flexible work arrangements [], issues such as lack of physical activity, job loss, and isolation have also led to negative health consequences, including depression and anxiety [], directly impacting quality of life (QoL) []. QoL, defined as an individual’s perceived state of well-being [], is crucial to health, as those with lower QoL tend to be more sensitive to stress and experience disruptions in daily living []. With the current climate of rapid technological evolution, competition, and uncertainty, the absence of individual or policy-driven efforts could further deteriorate QoL []. The young adult period—approximately from age 20 to the early-to-mid-30s—is marked by significant life transitions, such as independence from parents, higher education enrollment and graduation, employment, and marriage []. Individuals of this age, which includes students, job seekers, and the employed, face heightened anxiety from a combination of socio-structural issues, such as more tenuous employment conditions and safety []. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health-related anxiety [,] and increased the reliance on mobile devices among young adults raised in a digital culture. Coupled with reduced physical activity and opportunities for direct contact with others, this reliance on mobile devices has led to increased mental health issues, including loneliness and anxiety [].