Beyond the four Ps: reframing purpose development through an ecological lens

Purpose Purpose is widely recognized as a cornerstone of thriving during adolescence and young adulthood. Yet despite its well-documented benefits, purpose remains elusive for many young people, particularly in the United States, where rising mental health concerns are increasingly tied to challenges of meaning, identity and belonging. Existing models of purpose development have largely emphasized intrapersonal and relational processes, often under-attending to broader contextual conditions shaping young people’s lives. Design/methodology/approach In this conceptual paper, we propose an ecological reframing of purpose development. Building on the four Ps framework (people, passion, propensity and prosociality), we introduce a fifth foundational dimension: place. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory, we define place as the macro- and chrono-level conditions that shape what young people perceive as meaningful, possible and worth committing to over time. Findings We highlight how macro- and chrono-level influences, including economic insecurity, digital environments and sociopolitical instability, have become immediate and psychologically proximal forces shaping youth purpose development. These factors influence how young people understand what is possible and meaningful in their lives, often narrowing the scope of their goals and contributing to feelings of disconnection. Moreover, we identify the reciprocal relationship between youth purpose and place, where individual purpose can also shape the broader contexts they inhabit. Originality/value This paper advances purpose theory by arguing that macro- and chrono-level forces, including digital life, economic insecurity and institutional instability, now operate in more immediate and psychologically proximal ways than prior models have assumed. By introducing place as a fifth P of purpose, we offer an ecological framework that clarifies how context shapes young people’s moral imagination, sense of agency and capacity to sustain commitment, with direct implications for character education.