Across eight countries, 40-77% of young adults experience quarter-life crises involving career, financial, and emotional struggles.
Authors
Oliver C. Robinson, School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, UK
Nikolay Petrov, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
Georgios Vleioras, Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, Greece
Figen Çok, Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey
H. Kübra Özdoğan, Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Zehra Yeler, Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, TED University, Ankara, Turkey
Kübra Berber, Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Katarina Millova, Department of Psychology, University of Ostrava, Czechia
Saba Sajjad, Department of Clinical Psychology, International Institute of Science Arts and Technology, Pakistan
Luciana Dutra-Thomé, Institute of Psychology, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil
Maria Nugraheni Mardi Rahayu, Faculty of Psychology, Satya Wacana Christian University, Indonesia
Afinnisa Rasyida, Faculty of Psychology, University of Surabaya, Indonesia
Nindya Putri Aprodita, Psychology Study Program, Bunda Mulia University, Indonesia
Shefali Mishra, Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bangalore, India
Payal Sharma, Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bangalore, India
Akancha Srivastava, Associate Professor, Jindal School of Psychology & Counselling, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Irini Dermitzaki, Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, Greece
Anastasia Spyrou, Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, Greece
Emmanouela Mante, Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, Greece
Ume Laila, Humanities and Social Sciences Department, GIFT University, Pakistan
Amy Fisher, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Summary
Developmental crisis episodes that occur during emerging adulthood, also known as quarter-life crises, are emotionally unstable times of transition that typically last around a year or two. This study aims to expand the cross-cultural focus on this topic, by assessing prevalence and brief written descriptions of early adult crisis in 18–29-year-olds from eight countries (UK, Greece, Czechia, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Brazil), with a total sample of N = 2,247, with the objective of exploring similarities and differences across cultures. Crisis prevalence rates found ranged from 40% to 77% per country. Thematic analysis of descriptions of crisis elicited external and internal crisis features. With regards to external features, the most prevalent were career transition, financial difficulties, studying-based stress and struggle, and family difficulties. Internal features that were most prevalent were feeling fearful/anxious/worried, negative self-evaluation, feeling sad/down, and feelings of confusion/uncertainty. The findings align with existing research on early adult crisis, pointing to both cross-cultural similarities and differences.
Published in: Emerging Adulthood
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